the voice of the maltese no. 119

Issue119 online magazine

(driven by the voice driven by the voice of its readersof its readers)

January 19, 2016

The Voice of the Malteseonline magazine

Malta and Gozo are rich in natural scenery, particu-larly close to the sea cliffs that enhance the is-lands’, and indeed the most popular, are the DingliCliffs, located off the village of Dingli, on Malta’sWestern coast. They stage the highest point of theMaltese Islands at around 253 metres above sea-level and the views are breathtaking in the beautifulweather Malta has been experiencing of late. January in Malta is supposed to be one of the two

coldest months of the year and rainy days are a

normality. Not this year however. The Maltese is-lands were in the midst of an extended so-called StMartin’s Summer (associated with the month of Novem-ber), and people have enjoyed hours of walking orrelaxaing in the open spaces. The cliffs that extendwell beyond Dingli village, stretching all the wayfrom Bahrija to the area above Blue Grotto, on Sun-day afternoons are a sight to watch and photo en-thusiasts have a field day. (Witness this Maltaphotothat shows part of the coastline at the Dingli Cliffs)

2 The Voice of the Maltese Tuesday January 19, 2016

The Heart of Malta (1)On my recent trip back home,

Malta, many things impressedme. I re-acquainted myself with

the beauty of the Islands and many fa-miliar places from my childhood there.As well as the familiar, my attentionwas also taken by the unfamiliar. The newness of Luqa (Gudja) Airport

for example, its modernity and its cul-tural orientation which was refreshingafter the sterility and ‘industrial’ na-ture of Sydney airport for example.

I loved the piano sitting there at thedeparture lounge waiting for willinghands to tickle the ivories. The foodoutlets, while still ‘airport’ were none-theless of reasonable quality with edi-ble food being sold and served.

I also enjoyed the pedestrian plazasin Valletta. The transport system (thebuses that is), while perhaps stilldrawing complaints, was easily acces-sible and moved us around the Islandin a timely manner. Buying the tallinjacard gave us freedom of movementfor a full week at a time.

While many of the ‘newer’ thingswere intriguing, it was the older onesthat drew me closer. The glorious oldarchitecture, the astounding scenery,the magnificent waterways, especially

the beautiful Grand Harbour, the oldforts so central to the history and de-fence of the Islands and of Europe asa whole from the Renaissance periodonwards, the wonderful traditionalfood of Malta and the smell of theMediterranean.

However, it was the people whowere both new and old. You could seemany changes in the Islands’ popula-tion since the 1960’s. It is true that, asa 64-year-old, I was looking at themwith much older eyes than those of a12-year-old.

What wasa p p a r e n t ,though, wasa greater so-phistication,which, onthe one handwas inevita-ble given theway theWorld hasshrunk overthe past 50years. On the other hand the people,even those of the older generation, ex-press themselves as being far more cos-mopolitan than they used to be.

The relative insularity of the popula-tion had been changed by many factorsover the years since I had last beenthere. There was a far greater exposureto other nationalities and cultures and,of course, tourism had exploded overthat period of time with somewhere inthe vicinity of 100,000 tourists per yearin the early 1960’s to well over a milliontourists a year now.

This influx of people from every-where in the World including Asiancountries, the Balkans, Slavic andScandinavian countries and the USA,

was bound to impact on the ratherlimited ‘World view’ held by our peo-ple in days gone by.

One other ‘newer’ thing was, ofcourse, the number of people there ofAfrican descent. These people re-garded loosely as ‘migrants’ in Europeare, of course, not migrants but in themain, refugees fleeing for their liveswith their children and only theclothes on their backs. I have no ideawhat it would be like to be a refugee.

Migrants have a choice and refugeesdo not. I can only look on from ‘the

outside’ and try to guess what itwould be like to have to escape froma war-torn country or a country wheredespots ruled, where my childrenwere in danger of their lives or I wasbeing hounded and hunted by thugswith guns and knives and where thewomen folk and the children in myfamily were at the mercy of maraud-ers, rapists and mutilators.

Why would you want to escapeeverything you know, your countrywhere you were born and raised, yourculture, your language group and re-ligion if you could choose not to?

Of course, in Malta, as is the case inthe majority of other places in theWorld where refugees land, the re-sponse of the populace is somewhat-varied. There are some who seeimmediately with compassion thatthese people are in need of a welcom-ing hand and they extend that hand.

There are others, perhaps the major-ity, who are ambivalent about thenewcomers, seeing them as needy yetalso seeing them as an intrusion andpotentially a threat to their cultureand nationhood. Others will see themas aliens and find any differences to beunacceptable and unwelcome and willrespond to refugees with hostility,anger and even contempt. level, theycan be ‘sent back to their country oforigin’, a solution that at one time wasin fact proposed by ‘the authorities’who wanted to send refugees back toLibya. The European Court of HumanRights blocked the decision.

According to UNHCR figures(http://www.unhcr.org/pages/49e48eba6.html) there are close to 6,500refugees now in the Maltese Islands.That constitutes something like 1.5%of the population who are now ofAfrican descent. Currently in Aus-tralia, which has a population of 23million, there are a total of 29,000refugees/asylum seekers living in thecountry (http://www.asrc.org.au/re-sources/statistics/detention-and-refugee-statistics/), which accountsfor 0.13% of the total population.

*Continued on page 3

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Tuesday January 19, 2016 The Voice of the Maltese 3

January 26 is Australia Day, the official National Dayof Australia, when the country commemorates the es-tablishment of the first European settlement at Port Jack-son, now part of Sydney 288 years ago. It is anopportunity for Australians to join in the celebrationsthat reflect the diverse society and landscape of the na-tion. It was on January 26, 1788 when the First Fleet of 11ships from Great Britain led by Captain Arthur Philip ar-rived at Port Jackson, which now forms Sydney Harbour,and established the Colony of New South Wales, the firstpenal colony in Australia. Twenty years later, 1808, on January 26 was being cel-ebrated as “First Landing Day” or “Foundation Day”with drinking and merriment.According to the history books, in 1818, thirty yearsafter the arrival of the First Fleet, the Governor of Aus-tralia ordered a 30-gun salute, hosted a dinner ball atGovernment House and gave government employees aholiday and in 1838, Foundation Day became Australia'sfirst public holiday, giving rise to the first public celebra-tions of the founding of Australia, with the peoplecrowding the shores of Sydney Harbour to watch a fire-work display.In the following decades, horse racing and regattas werepopular activities on this important day that in 1888 be-

came known as 'Anniversary Day' tobe celebrated in all colonies exceptAdelaide. In 1888, the centenary of the arrival

of the First Fleet was celebrated with ceremonies, exhi-bitions, banquets, regattas, fireworks and the unveilingof a statue of Queen Victoria.By 1935, January 26 became known as Australia Day inall states except New South Wales, where it was stillcalled Anniversary Day. In 1938, large-scale celebrationsthat included a re-enactment of the landing of the FirstFleet were held. These did not mention the convict sta-tus of many of the passengers on these ships, but in-cluded the removal of a group of Aborigines. Shortly before the celebrations, a group of Aboriginalactivists arranged a “Day of Mourning” to campaign forcitizenship and equal rights for Aborigines.From 1946 on, January 26 was recognised as AustraliaDay in all states, but the public holiday was moved tothe Monday nearest to January 26 to create a long week-end. Since 1994, the Australia Day public holiday hasbeen on January 26 in all states and territories.On this day, the celebrtions are marked by communityand family events, reflections on Australian history, offi-cial community awards, and citizenship ceremonies wel-coming new immigrants into the Australian community.Awards honouring Australians who have made an out-standing contribution to their country or community,including the Australian of the Year and the Order ofAustralia are also announced.

*from page 2

The other factor in Australia is, ofcourse, the heterogeneity of the popu-lation and the fact that refugees andasylum seekers are more ‘hidden’. InMalta this is far from the case with themajority by far of those living in Maltabeing of Maltese descent.

Someone living in your street who isnot of Maltese descent would be imme-diately recognisable as ‘not belonging’and would, therefore, stand out as arefugee especially if dark skinned. The actual and potential proportion of

refugees to Maltese in Malta and theircommunal distinctiveness poses issuesand problems that, to an extent, may be

regarded as somewhat unique. Due tothis sheer lack of size of the Islands andthe nature and size of their population,it will be harder to integrate ‘outsiders’into the Islands’ culture and economy.

The challenge for Malta is how to dealwith these refugees in a way that retainsthe integrity of the Islands yet expressesthe depth and beauty of what may be re-garded as ‘the heart of the Islands’.It’s not only the challenge faced by the

Islands and the Maltese Islanders. It isalso the challenge faced by therefugees. The question for them has tobe: “how can we fit into this tightly knitcommunity and guarantee our placeinto the future?” I would suggest thatthis is the appropriate question rather

than merely ‘can we fit into this tightlyknit community?’

The refugees are now in the Islandsand more than likely there to stay un-less some remarkable turnaround canhappen in their homelands which willallow them to return and that in turn ishighly unlikely within their lifetimes.

If these refugees are dealt with by theMaltese merely on an intellectual level,they can be ‘sent back to their countryof origin’, a solution that at one timewas in fact proposed by ‘the authori-ties’ who wanted to send refugees backto Libya. The European Court ofHuman Rights blocked the decision.

Continued in the next issue

January 26: January 26: Commemorating288th Anniversary of Australia Day

Illum se n˙ares lura u nipprova nif-takar x’imbuttani biex jien ukoll b˙aleluf ta’ Maltin o˙ra nemigra lejn l-

Awstralja. Ûew© uti ikbar minni, illumit-tnejn mejtin kienu di©a` ilhom xi sninjg˙ixu Sydney. Óija Toni kien mastru-daxxa u Joe kien kok li ˙adem f’Maltamal-BOAC u l-KaΩin Malti.Niftakar ukoll xeni ta’ qsim il-qalb meta

Ω-Ωew© ˙uti emigraw lejn l-Awstralja.Dak iΩ-Ωmien it-triq fejn konna noqog˙-du kienet tkun donna bil-vistu meta xi˙add jemigra, ©eneralment lejn Aw-stralja. L-emigrazzjoni kienet xi ˙a©a per-manenti u dawn iΩ-Ω©˙aΩa©˙ li ddeçidewli jemigraw ma kienux mistennija li ji©ulura Malta malajr, x’aktarx qatt.

Ommi tibki, qatt ma kienet ti©i d-dwana tara lil xi ˙add mill-familja jibdal-vja©© bil-ba˙ar. Kienet battikatag˙alija. Id-dwana kien ikun hemm xenimqanqla, xeni ta’ qsam il-qalb. L-a˙˙artannieqa, l-a˙˙ar bewsa. Mijiet o˙rajinΩlu jag˙tu l-a˙˙ar tislima. Ódejn id-dwana u l-lift kien ikun ˙emm kun-fuΩjoni s˙i˙a. Biex tkompli d-dieqa xig˙aref kien ipo©©i fuq il-loudspeaker il-kanΩunetta…cirio, as I wave you good-bye. Ûgur li dawk li kienu se jemingrawma kienux sejrin xi xalata.

Mid-dwana g˙al fuq xi dg˙ajsa u mal-iskala g˙all-vapur. Niftakar Ωew© ©ra-jjiet dwar ija Toni. Meta kien se jemi©rakien jum ta’ maltemp qawwi u l-vapurAsturias ma setax jid˙ol il-port iΩda ˙ijaxorta kellu jitlaq mid-dar b’o˙ti u ommijwersqu u jolfqu. Ftit sie©˙at wara kellujer©a ji©i lura d-dar.

Tistg˙u ta˙sbu kemm fer˙et ommi.Da˙˙lita f’rasha li ˙ija re©a’ bdilu umhux se j˙alliha. Missieri jinkwieta. L-


‘Li kieku waqa’ u kiser siequ’Tifkiriet u nostal©ija.....

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g˙ada kellna nikkupjaw l-istess xena ta’qsim il-qalb g˙ax ˙ija Toni kellu j˙allid-dar tag˙na g˙at-tieni darba, immadin id-darba il-vapur salpa.

Óija Toni kien wie˙ed mill-ewwelnies tas-seng˙a li telqu minn Malta ta˙tkuntratt mal-gvern Awstraljan biexja˙dmu f’Canberra li dak iΩ-Ωmien,kmieni fil-˙amsinijiet kienet qed tin-bena. G˙alkemm weg˙du˙om akko-modazzjoni iΩda spiççaw fil-kampijiet.

Óija g˙aΩel li jibg˙atilna ritratti tas-sil©li Canberra kienet mag˙rufa g˙alih, sil©li jo˙noq il-kampijiet u kull ma tarab’g˙ajnejk. Tistg˙u ta˙sbu x’effett ˙al-lew dawn ir-ritratti f’darna b’ommitag˙ti fuq rasha u tg˙idilna “ara fejn it-turufna ru˙u ibni, mhux sewwa…din l-emigrazzjoni sa˙ta…firda tal-familji”

Il-weg˙da ta’ akkomodazzjoni adeg-wata ma waslitx. Óallewhom fil-kampi-jiet sakemm ˙afna minnhom, fosthom˙ija telqu minn Canberra lejn blietakbar, b˙al Sydney u Melbourne. Nif-takar sewwa meta kellimt lil xi w˙udminn dawk li waslu minn Canberra. Id-deskrivew dawk iΩ-Ωmienijiet b˙alaqishom ©ew issentenzjati g˙all-ag˙ar˙abs tad-dinja.

Kien Ωmien ukoll ta’ dwejjaq g˙axb˙ala ©uvintur ftit kienu jsibukumpanija femminili. Dak iΩ-Ωmienkien moda Ω-Ωwie© bil-prokura. Kienetg˙aqda me˙tie©a g˙all-Maltin g˙axb˙ala kattoliçi l-©enituri Maltin ma

kienux i˙allu lil-uliedhom xebbiet jemi-graw. IΩ-Ωwie© bil-prokura kien donnuje˙les lill-©enituri Maltin mir-respons-abbilitajiet morali u reli©juΩi.

G˙add ta’ ©uvintur Maltin iΩΩeww©ubil-prokura. Kif ktibt kemm-il darba,tassew li l-˙amsinjiet kienu Ωmienijieto˙ra m˙ux a˙jar jew ag˙ar iΩda diffiçliu differenti. Il-ma©©oranΩa tal-Maltinkienu jin©abru fis-subborgi tal-qrib lejnin-na˙at tal-bliet kapitali. Óuti kienu

joqog˙du fi Newtown li dak iΩ-Ωmienkien mimli Griegi, Maltin u Taljani.Illum Newtown sar kosmopolitan,mimli ristoranti upmarket, qrib sewwatal-Universita` ta’ Sydney u g˙al˙ekkjattira ˙afna studenti. Jien çert li f’Mel-bourne u bliet o˙ra ˙emm subborgisimili li fihom in©abru l-Maltin mal-wasla tag˙hom fl-Awstralja.Dawk iΩ-Ωmenijiet, dawn in-na˙at qrib

l-iblet kienu jattirawna g˙ax kienu qribix-xog˙ol u anke qrib l-ibliet ewlenin,iΩda maΩ-Ωmien ˙afna mill-Maltin ab-bandunaw dawn l-in˙awi u marru jfit-txu postijiet il-bog˙od fejn setg˙u jixtrul-art u jibnu fuq blokok akbar u aktarspaΩjuΩi.Tiskanta kif jinbidlu Ω-Ωmienijiet, kif it-

talba g˙ad-djar u l-lokalitajiet jinbidluwkoll. Illum dawn id-djar gabubi likellna fis-subborgi saru lokalitajietmoda u qed jinbieg˙u bil-miljuni. Likonna nafu! Li kellna viΩjoni! Hekk ˙ija l-˙ajja. Li kieku waqa’ u kiser siequ!

Óames Maltin tas-seng˙a lispiççaw Canberra fil-˙am-sinijiet. Toni Dimech l-ewwelbilqieg˙da mill-lemin

During World War II school lifewas unavoidably and continu-ously interrupted. Children

preferred playing among the ruins ofdemolished houses; built outpostswith masonry, and played soldiers;but they were instructed to also go toschool. During the war, due to lack oftransport one of the greatest problemsfor school children was how to get toschool. For parents it was not onlyhow to take their kids to school, butthey were also very concerned as towhether their children would comeback from school.

My future husband, then a youngboy, recalled that one morning in 1942on his way to school he met a friendof his who like him was on his way toschool when there was an air raidwarning. They were at a cross roadwhen they parted, my husband wentdown Prince of Wales to take theFerry that would get him to the Semi-nary in Floriana, and his friend toStella Maris School. In no time a bombexploded close to his friend, who waskilled on the spot. During the war schools did not close.

But a number of them were taken over to house ARP centres, and to accom-

modate refugees. Others were hit anddamaged by falling bombs.

Teachers were expected to continuewith their teaching and the childrenwith their learning as best as theycould. I remember us as kids goingdown the shelter during the air raids.Besides many other discomforts weonly had candles for light, and therewas also great humidity. During the intense bombings of 1942

we used to spend long hours in theshelter. When the Director of Educa-tion used to visit the school he used totell us: “You have to come to school.

Bombs or no bombs education mustgo on.”

Scarcity of reading books, exercisebooks or copybooks to write on, nopencils, pens and ink (we had no ballpens at the time). All these items werein very short supply and very difficultto buy. Up to this day, I still make useof every scrap of paper to write on! Certain textbooks had to be shared be-

tween the whole class. We were allowedto keep some of the books for a fewhours, or for half a day, occasionally fora whole day. Examinations were alsoheld, but often due to fear many stu-dents would not sit for their exams.

Due to the alarming situation severalschools and other buildings were con-verted into hospitals; among thesewere: St Aloysius College and the Pri-mary School at Birkirkara; a section ofthe Primary School at Sliema and oth-ers in various parts of the island. The StAloysius students were transferred tovarious houses, while those in Sliemawere housed in the Oratory of the Sale-sian Fathers and a small private house.

Other schools were used to houserefugees who had lost their homes inblitzed areas. For example: three fam-ilies were living in one classroom; afamily of six persons could occupyone third of a room. Families in thesame room were separated only bymeans of a curtain. In Gozo two of the largest schools in

Victoria were thus used: the PrimarySchool was turned into a home forMaltese elderly people who camefrom an Institute in Malta, while theLyceum became a refugee centre forMaltese families who lost their homeat Cottonera – the Three Cities.

On May 8 1941, in the feast of OurLady of Pompeii, Fr M. Azzopardi,(the school’s spiritual director) con-cluded a service in the school chapeland urged everyone to pray devoutly.Five days later, the school bell rangat2.15 p.m. as a sign of an air raid-warning.


MALTA: Echoesfrom the past

DorisCannataci

SCHOOLS IN MALTA DURING WW II


Class in one of the sheltersready to welcome Maltese chil-dren for their lesson. There weremany like it in wartime Malta.


Q. My mother is 90 years of age and stillquite healthy. I would like to take herhome to live with me as I am always wor-ried that she could have a fall while she isat home alone. Her house is worth around$450,000. She does not wish to rent it outjust in case she is not happy living with usand decides to go back to her home. Willthis have any impact on her age pension?

A. This is your mother’s residential home.As she is not planning to rent her houseout, this will still be her residential homeand therefore the pension will not be im-pacted at all. However if she decides torent it out, her home will become an in-vestment property and thus an asset, butshe will be treated as a non home ownerand therefore have a higher asset testlimit. The rental income will be assessedagainst the Age Pension income test, andmay reduce her pension entitlement. Thismay be partially offset by rent assistance.

The rental income together with her agepension will be treated as taxable incomeand she may therefore have to pay some tax.

Q. I am planning to purchase some Aus-tralian Shares as a gift for my two grand-children. I am concerned that currentlythe share market is very volatile. What doyou recommend?

A. You should not be concerned by thevolatility in the share markets if you are

planning to invest for capital growth inthe medium to long term. Shares have al-ways been and will continue to be volatileinvestments and therefore when one pur-chases shares they need be prepared tohold them for at least five to seven years. My concern however would be how the tax

treatment on your grandchildren would be.If they are under the age of 18, they

could be up for the high tax of 68% iftheir income from investments falls be-tween $416 and $1307 for the year andat 47% + Medicare Levy after that. If theyare over 18 then you have no problem.Purchasing shares when the share markethas just corrected could be a good timeto buy as you will get a larger number ofshares for your money. Remember it istime in the market and not timing themarket.Q. I am 55 and wish to commence a“Transition to Retirement”. Am I able todo this and how does it actually work?

A.If you were born after 1 July 1960, youneed to be 56 years of age to commencea “Transition to Retirement” so youcould commence this next year. You willneed to rollover part or the bulk of thefunds you have in superannuation in ac-cumulation and commence a non-com-mutable account based pension.

You will need to take a payment of be-tween 4% and 10% annually. I wouldrecommend sticking to the minimum i.e.4% as you will need to add this to yourtaxable income even though you get a taxrebate. You will then start to salary sac-rifice part of your income and build upyour superannuation again. This will re-duce tax on your taxable income as youpay 15% contributions tax on the amountpaid into superannuation while moneyfrom your salary would probably be taxedat least at 32.5% (or your Marginal TaxRate) plus Medicare Levy.

Q. I am 57 years of age and have my ownSelf-Managed Super Fund. My underly-ing assets are cash and Australian shares.I have just recently come into $200,000and wish to know how best to invest thesefunds i.e. whether to invest them in super-annuation or out of superannuation.

A. Generally, funds invested outside su-perannuation will be taxed at your mar-ginal tax rate.

In contrast, funds invested in superan-nuation receive additional tax conces-sions. These include a maximum tax rateof 15% for superannuation funds that areaccumulating funds, nil tax on funds in-vested in a pension, tax offsets or tax freeincome if you are in pension mode (agedependent). Funds invested in superan-nuation are, however, subject to a condi-tion of release such as Transition toRetirement.

If you are still working, you can com-mence a Transition to Retirement IncomeStream (TRIS) with your superannuationfunds. The TRIS requires you to draw aminimum pension of 4% (at age 57) anda maximum pension amount of 10% of thebalance per annum.

This provides the flexibility of growingyour pension funds in a nil tax rate envi-ronment, but you are unable to access ad-ditional lump sums.

If you are retired, you are able to accessyour superannuation funds without limita-tion.

A new service to our readers

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inGUARDIA

for more information: tel: 2291 5440/1/2 • [email protected] • www.visitmalta.com

Shows during 2016Shows during 2015January 3 | February 7, 28 | March 6, 13, 20 April 3, 10, 17, 24 | May 1, 8, 15, 22October 9, 16, 23 November 6, 13, 20, 27

December 27

Held on Sundays, as per dates above. Starts at 11 finishes at 11.45 am.

CALENDAROF EVENTS 2016

WWW.VISITMALTA.COM/EN/EVENTS

Valletta International Baroque Festival Chinese New Year Celebrations

23/01 Chinese New Year Celebrations, Valletta16/01-30/01 Valletta International Baroque Festival 05/02-09/02 Carnival celebrations in Valletta, Floriana & Nadur Gozo10/02 Feast of St. Paul’s Shipwreck26/02 Business Leaders Malta Conference28/02 Vodafone Malta Marathon 10/03-11/03 World Heritage International Expo 17/03-20/03 Tour Ta’ Malta18/03-19/03 Malta International Karate Event 19/03 Feast of St Joseph20-21/03 Spring Equinox 25/03-27/03 Good Friday & Easter Sunday28/03-02/04 World ISF Badminton Championships for Schools31/03 Freedom Day; Regatta in the Grand Harbour31/03-03/04 Annie Mac presents Lost & Found Malta01/04-09/04 International Spring Orchestra Festival02-03/04 Malta Karate Federation Competitions03/04 XTerra Triathlon15/04 George Cross Commemoration16/04, 23/04 Malta International Fireworks Festival & 30/04

18/04 Malta Mechanised Fireworks Festival22-24/04 Opera+ Weekend24/04 Gozo Half Marathon27/04-10/05 Malta International Music Festival & Competition 01/05 Labour Day09/05 The Valletta Green Festival30/05 Gozo Ultra Race03-05/06 Earth Garden 07/06 Sette Giugno07/06 Figs Festival, Xaghra Gozo08/06-11/07 19th edition of the Victoria International Arts Festival10-12/06 Ghanafest – Malta Mediterranean Folk Music Festival18-19/06 Agricultural Fair, Nadur, Gozo28/06 Isle of MTV Malta Special29/06 Feast of St. Peter & St. Paul; L-Imnarja Summer Folk Festival10/07-03/08 Malta Arts Festival

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entsed Evalendar

Paul Pisani from Balga WA writes:

Thank you for a great read. I look forwardto the Maltese magazine every fortnight.I have a couple of comments to make, al-though I know that it is out of your handsas to what comes your way from Malta.

The first is about the article on the“Changing regulations about property in

Malta” AN EXPLANATION.I find it a bit weird that someone other

than the owner of a property can make anapplication to develop the said property.Surely it is the owner and only the ownerwho can make such an application.

For the Planning Authority to say thatproof of ownership is a matter for theCourts is a dereliction of duty. Is there noregistration of property ownership inMalta?

The second matter relates to the voting forMaltese living abroad. Why are the Malteseliving in Europe considered any differentthan the Maltese living elsewhere?

If the law (as proposed by the Opposi-tion) were to change to allow Maltese liv-ing abroad to vote in Maltese elections andreferendum, then it should apply to allMaltese living abroad. Not only those re-siding in Europe, but also those residingin Australia, Canada, Britain, the US, andelsewhere.

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

onl ine magazineonl ine magazine

The Voice of the Maltese

is is a bi-lingual (inEnglish and Maltese) fort-nightly online publication

specifically targeting allMaltese living abroad with emphasis on the

Australian scene. is online magazine is

sent via email by request.Subscription is free.

Editors: Malta: Joseph CutajarAustralia:Lawrence Dimech: MOM,

OAM, JPemail address:

[email protected]

onl ine magazineonl ine magazine

Letters for publication in The Voice ei-ther in Maltese or English should bee-mailed to: [email protected].

Now you can also join uson facebook:https://www.facebook.com/groups/thevoice-ofthemaltese


Charles N.Mifsud. MQR. JP from Burra-neer, NSW writes:

Please allow me to first wish yourselvesand the readers of The Voice of the

Maltese a very prosperous and healthyNew Year in a World of peace and love aswe enjoy reading "The Voice"whilst at thesame time congratulating you gentlemenfor bringing this e-Magazine to us on aregular basis, appreciating that this is noeasy task requiring a solid commitment,for which I fully appreciate and thank youfor.

I'd also like to sincerely thank all thosepeople here in Australia and in other coun-tries who have sent me congratulatorynotes and good wishes publicly and pri-vately, after I received the Midalja Gie˙ ir-Repubblika. Your kind words and messages I treasure

deeply.I have been honoured and humbled and

am very grateful to the Authorities in ourbeloved Malta. To all those that have had anything to do

with me being awarded such an Award mysincere thank you. You have inspired meto continue working for our Communityfor as long as the God Lord allows me to.

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

Email:Email: [email protected] Tel: (00356) [email protected] Tel: (00356) 23497000

Property in Malta and Maltese living abroad

Appreciating thegood wishes

Il-Messa©©i annwaliTal-mexxejja MaltinAldo Mifsud, minn Airport West Victoriajikteb:

Óadt pjaçir ferm naqra l-messa©©i tal-mexxejja ta’ Malta lilna li ninsabu

tant bog˙od minn art twelidna, fl-Aw-stralja. Huma messa©©i li juru wkollkemm hi rrispettata u mag˙rufa din ir-riv-ista online, The Voice of the Maltese.

Nittama biss li fil-©ejjieni, dawk lijibag˙tulna dawn it-tislimiet sbie˙ tal-Mi-lied u g˙as-Sena l-Ìdida ma jdawwrux il-messa©© tag˙hom f’rivista ta’ dak li jkunug˙amlu matul is-sena ta’ qabel iΩdajΩommu mal-messa©© li jkun speçifika-ment dirett lejn dawk li jg˙ixu barra minnMalta.

Sadanittant, nixtieq nifra˙ minn qalbi lilThe Voice li ng˙ata prova tas-sa˙˙a u l-g˙arfien li g˙andu fostna meta g˙all-ewweldarba kellu anke l-esklussivita` ta’ messa©gming˙and il-Prim Ministru Awstraljan.


Luke Marks from Grassy, Tasmania writes:

My wife is the one who receives The Voice of the Maltese magazine and allowsme to read your excellent publication with good comments and wide coverage.

I always look forward to reading it, particularly as it publishes news and commentsnot just nostalgia. Readers do not live for nostalgia alone, they also want to be stim-ulated.

I have little time to read newspapers, or to follow what is going on in Australia,therefore I find your pages with Australian news very informative and very precise.Indeed a good read.

I find it is essential to keep your readers, even if they are Maltese, informed aboutwhat is happening in their country of adoption. This is how to achieve integration.You are doing a good job.

The news from Australia on VoM

Schooling inwartime Malta

Peter Aquilina, Mississauga, Ontario,Canada

As a reader from Canada, I am sopleased to learn that there are many

other Maltese-Canadians who enjoy read-ing The Voice of the Maltese, and thereforeplease allow me to avail myself of this op-portunity to notify my fellow Maltese inthe Greater Toronto area of some of theevents that Maltese-Canadian communityaround the country will be organising thisyear, 2016.

I also feel obliged to advice my fellowMaltese to be guided by these approximatedates from last year however.

The events organised by Maltese clubsand associations in the Greater Torontoarea are too numerous to mention at onego, therefore I am just listing the events aspublished by the Maltese Canadian Feder-ation for the first six months, up to June 29.I will notify the readers of the rest of the

events later.March 1: Melita Carnival Dance. March 5: Melita S.C. St Patrick Dance.March 8: London Club: Mario VellaFundraiser towards ALS. March 29: Martini Night at The MaltaBand Club. April 12: Le˙en Malti Fundraiser at LeTreport; Melita SC Euchre Night. April 13: London Club Ann. Gen. Meet.May 3: Festa San Gorg at the Rizzo Ban-quet Hall.May 3: London Club Anniversary DinnerDance.May 10: Malta Band Club AnniversaryDinner Dance.May 23-25: Malta Band Club Carassaugaat the Malta Pavilion.June 7: Malta Band Club Spaghetti Night.June 2: Malta Band Club Car Show;Mnarja Dance at the Melita SCJune 29: Mnarja Picnic organised by TheMaltese Canadian Federation.

Maltese-Canadian notifies aboutevents in Greater Toronto, Canada

*Continued from page 5

The children rushed to the under-ground shelter. However, the care-taker, who was responsible forringing the bell, told the teacher incharge that he was unable to ring thebell because the Police failed to warnhim about the raid.

It was such a mystery, as nobodyseemed to know who rang the bell. Atthat very moment a terrifying explo-sion rocked the building, and a thickcloud of dust shrouded the building.One of the bombs, landed exactly onthe Tabernacle that contained fourhundred consecrated Hosts. It also de-stroyed the chapel and the stairs thatthe children had used a few minutesbefore. That was one of the miracu-lous deliverances from the thousandsof bombs that peppered Malta duringthe Second World War.

The mystery about this incident re-mained unknown up to about twoyears ago when an elderly lady in hereighties, who during the war attendedthe Primary School at Qormi, ownedup that she was the one who rang thebell. She did it just for kicks. This jokeeventually saved the life of hundredsof school children. The presence ofJesus in the Hosts in the Tabernaclebore the brunt of the destructionthrough enemy action and saved thelife of those children.

I must say that with God’s help, ourdeep faith and prayers, in spite of allthe hardships we went through dur-ing the war, with God’s help we man-aged to survive and even succeededin life! As children we had to maturein life.

Find us on:

facebook.com/groups/thevoiceofthemaltese/

Meta ©ejt l-Awstralja, kont per-swaΩ li g˙alkemm se nsib dif-ferenzi ovvji, b˙ad-distanzi

˙afna ikbar, varjeta' fil-©ijografija, et-niçitajiet differenti eçç eçç, biex nibbi-lançja kont se nsib ˙afna affarijietfamiljari, b˙as-sewqan fuq ix-xellug(wirt tal-˙akma Brittannika) u l-˙ila lin˙addem makkinarju domestiku li ©ibtmieg˙i minn Malta (min˙abba li l-vulta©© u l-frekwenza tal-elettriku huwal-istess b˙al dak tal-Ewropa, u mhuxb˙al dak tal-Istati Uniti u pajjiΩi o˙ra).

Imma anke hawn, skoprejt xi (dawk lig˙alija kienu) stramberiji. Nag˙tu kaΩ,fi NSW, U-turn, ji©ifieri li taqsam minnna˙a wa˙da tat-triq g˙an-na˙a l-o˙ra ussuq lura, tista' ssir mad-dwal f'salib it-toroq biss jekk hu mmarkat li hu per-mess, u fi qsim it-toroq o˙ra f'kull postie˙or ˙lief fejn immarkat li mhux permess. Però meta mortQueensland, skoprejt li U-turn fi qsim it-toroq ma jista' jsirimkien ˙lief fejn hu mmarkat li jista' jsir.

Allura ng˙id jien, dan mhux konfuΩjoni jista' jo˙loq fis-sewwieqa? Speçjalment f'ir˙ula li huma maqsumin mill-frun-tiera, b˙al Coolangatta (fi Queensland) u Tweed Heads (fi NSW),fejn hemm toroq na˙a minnhom fi stat u n-na˙a l-o˙ra fi statie˙or, jekk tkun sejjer g˙ax-xog˙ol u tag˙mel U-turn tista'tag˙mel dan bil-liberta' kollha, u jekk tkun ©ej lura jista' jwaqqfekpulizija g˙ax tag˙mel l-istess ˙a©a.Stramberija o˙ra ndunajt biha kwaΩi mallewwel, hekk kif d˙alt

fl-ewwel kamra tal-banju, kienet il-preΩenza ta' plakka tad-dawl,kwaΩi tmiss mas-sink. B˙ala in©inier li kellu l-edukazzjoni tieg˙u f'Malta, kont drajt ir-re-gola li xi ˙a©a b˙al dik hija periklu kbirag˙as-sa˙˙a min˙abba r-riskju ta' xokkelettriku, u jekk ifettillek tag˙melwa˙da f'dar ©dida, tista' tkun Ωgur li d-dar ma tg˙addix mill-ispezzjoni ta'wara l-permess tal-bini.

Sewwa, g˙edt bejni u bejn ru˙i, dinid-dar ma kinetx tg˙addi f’Malta! Dinkif g˙addiet hawn?

L-iskantament tieg˙i iktar kiber metaskoprejt li kwaΩi kull kamra tal-banju lid˙alt fiha fl-Awstralja g˙andha plakka tad-dawl fil-kamra tal-banju. Fl-a˙˙ar skoprejt li l-istandard tal-bini hawnhekk jippermettiha dinil-˙a©a.

Mela mhix periklu kbir g˙as-sa˙˙a li jkollok plakka tad-dawlfil-kamra tal-banju? Jew forsi l-Awstraljani g˙andhom ©ilda nfur-rata u ma je˙dux xokkijiet? Jew forsi min jag˙mel l-istandardshawn ma jifhimx? Jew ma jimpurtahomx? Jew forsi wara kolloxir-riskju mhux daqshekk kbir?Xi ˙a©a simili, f'Malta niftakarhom jinsistu li l-kmamar tal-banju

jrid ikollhom tieqa li tag˙ti g˙al barra. L-istess, jekk il-kamra tal-banju din ma jkollhiex, id-dar ma tg˙addix mill-ispezzjoni.Hawnhekk, jekk ikollok fann fis-saqaf ji©bed l-arja 'l barra mill-kamra tal-banju biΩΩejjed.

Dawn id-differenzi mhumiex biss koΩmetiçi, u jistg˙u jnaqqsul-fiduçja ta' dak li jkun dwar il-bΩonn ta' çertu regolamenti, jewtal-proçess li wassal g˙alihom, talinqas f'g˙ajnejja. Ikun ˙afnaa˙jar jekk ikun hemm iktar konsistenza f'dan il-qasam.

Hemm xi ˙a©’o˙ra li tkiddni ˙afna. F'Malta, nibnu bid-dobblu tal-©ebla Maltija fuq quddiem u dobblu tal-konkrit fuq in-na˙a ta' wara tad-dar, ji©ifieri fejn huespost g˙all-elementi. Dan jg˙in sabiex fid-dar tinΩammtemperatura kemm jista' jkun baxxa fis-sajf, u g˙olja fix-xitwa. Dan possibbli g˙ax il-qoxra ta' barra tilqa' l-estremi

tat-temperatura (ix-xemx tiΩre© fis-sajf, u l-kes˙a tax-xitwa), filwaqt li l-qoxra ta' ©ewwa g˙andha massa termali

kbira li ΩΩomm it-temperatura ta' ©ewwa pjuttost stabbli, udawn il-qxur g˙andhom l-arja fin-nofs.Fl-Awstralja, hawn tip ta' kostruzzjoni popolari ˙afna tissejja˙brick veneer, fejn il-qoxra ta' barra tad-dar tkun tal-briks li tilqa’l-estremi tat-temperatura, imma l-qoxra ta' ©ewwa hija rqiqammens, aktarx mag˙mula mill-plasterboard, folja rqiqa forsi ta'çentimetru, mag˙mul minn ©ips mag˙qud. Din il-folja m'g˙andha massa termali ta' xejn, u g˙alhekk, meta

l-qoxra tal-briks tkun ta˙raq bix-xemx, id-dar tkun garantita litkun ta˙raq u tibqa' ta˙raq mal-lejl g˙ax il-massa termali tinsabfuq barra! Mill-banda l-o˙ra, u meta l-briks ta' barra jkun in©azzatbil-kes˙a, id-dar tin©azza wkoll. Viva l-arja kkundizzjonata, umin g˙andu l-is˙ma tal-kumpanniji tal-ener©ija elettrika!Veru li daΩ-Ωmien, biex ipattu ftit, meta ssir din il-kostruzzjoni,

bejn il-briks u l-plasterboard saru jΩidu folja tal-insulazzjoni,imma ˙afna djar inbnew bil-mod kif iddeskrivejt qabel.Allura nistaqsi, dawn l-istandards g˙all-benefiççju ta' min saru?Óawwadni ˙a nifhem!

PerspettivaA version of this series inEnglish may be found inthe author's blog at: http://ivancauchi.blogspot.com

kitba ta’

IVAN

CAUCHI


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As well as being a wonderful carerfor the family, Vittoria helped out inthe family market garden, milked thecows and made homemade Maltese©bejniet (Maltese cheeselets) for thefamily to sell.In 1976, at the age of 50, her husband

passed away with asbestosis leavingher a widow with 12 children, agedfrom seven to twenty five.

Vittoria is well-known for her won-

derful Maltese dishes especially ravjul(ravioli) cheese pies, ftira, baked mac-aroni, rabbit, biskuttini and qag˙aqtal-g˙asel.

She is a great knitter and has knitteda great number of jumpers, scarvesand beanies for her children, grand-children and great grandchildren. Vit-toria says she learned to knit usingrooster feathers.

She is proud of having a grandchild,Emmanuel, and a great grandchild,Jayden, both born on her birthday.

Once her family grew up went theirway and became independent, shevolunteered to work for many yearswith aged day-care groups at theGreystanes Community Centre.

Vittoria has lived in Australia forover 60 years. During that time shehas travelled to Malta 13 times. Hermost recent trip was last year at the

age of 89. She has also toured many parts of Eu-

rope and has cruised twice to theSouth Pacific and to New Zealand.

Till today, she is still committed toseveral social groups - the Maltesecraft group (over 30 years), Carinyaaged day care (24 years), OLQP Mal-tese social group and Gilroy Villageexercise group.

Up until very recently, Vittoriawould remember, and be the first, tocall all her 12 children, 34 grandchil-dren and 25 great grandchildren ontheir birthdays. She has also attendedand loves the festa of Our Lady of Vic-tories, which is very close to her heart.

Vittoria’s very strong faith hasblessed her with a positive attitude tolife and she remains confident in giv-ing encouragement and non-judg-mental constructive advice to all, evenduring the most challenging of times.


The Maltese community is growing faster than most otherethnic groups in Australia. Maltese came to Australia intheir thousands in the fifties and sixties but by late eight-

ies migration from Malta started to slow down. Many are nowin their twilight years. Their sacrifices and valuable experi-ences are worth noting. The Voice of the Maltese focuses onone of our golden oldies, Vittoria Teuma (nee Sultana).

The fourth of 10 children, Vittoria was born in 1926 inXag˙ra, Gozo. She attended formal schooling for only twoyears, as at the age of seven, she was taken out of school tohelp her mother care for the family.

This was most upsetting for Vittoria, as she loved learningand attending school. By reading anything she could find, Vit-toria taught herself to read and write, in Maltese as well as inEnglish. She would pick up and keep papers from the streetand try to read the print again and again.Vittoria, now nearing 90, lived through the hardships of the

Great Depression and the Second World War. She got marriedto Giuseppe Teuma on New Year’s Day 1949, and six yearslater, in 1955, she made the long ocean voyage to Sydney withfour children under the age of five and heavily pregnant.

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VITTORIA TEUMA– a life lived to the full

Did you know that...?The current population of Australia is 23,790,982The male population is 11,857,483,equivalent to (49.8%).The female population is higher at11,933,499 (or 50.2%).The population growth this year is7,484.

VITTORIA TEUMA– a life lived to the full

Malta, Serbia andMontenegro, but al-so the possibility ofeven more Malteseinvestment in theregion.

In Belgrade wherehe met the SerbianPM Aleksander Vuc-ic Dr Muscat saidthat a model invest-ment between Mal-ta and Montenegrowhere Enemalta isinvesting in a com-mercial wind farmproject could also beapplied to Serbia.

Both sides agreedto holding furtherdiscussions betweenthe Energy ministersof both countries.

The possibility ofincreased commercial relations be-tween the two countries was also dis-cussed with the Maltese PM sayingthat strong possibilities existed andthese are to be further explored.Malta will also be giving its full sup-

port to Serbia’s drive for EU member-ship, with Vucic announcing during ajoint press conference that whenMalta takes over presidency of the EU

withearly next year, “the workinggroup for EU enlargement will hold ameeting in Belgrade.”

On his part, Muscat said that whenMalta takes charge of the EU Presi-dency it would ensure the term wouldbe an effective one. He said Malta hasalways favoured an increase in mem-bership and strongly supports Serbia’sentry.

The Serbian gov-ernment website re-ported Vucic expres-sing “gratitude toMalta for its greatsupport and help toSerbia on its Euro-pean path.”

Vucic went on tosay: “I am con-vinced that we canexpect the supportof Malta in the EUenlargement pro-cess in the futuretoo.

“According to therotating system,Malta will take overthe EU presidencyin early 2017. I amvery grateful thatthis country has

made the decision that the meeting ofthe working group for the EU enlarge-ment be held in Belgrade.”

The Serbian Prime Minister pointedout that Serbia and Malta “can im-prove trade relations, which are at alow level, and announced that theMaltese minister of energy will holdtalks about investments in renewableenergy sources.”

Thanking Dr. Muscat “for praisingthe Serbian community in Malta andsaying that it is a well-integrated andgood part of that country'ssociety,”Vucic added, “We could im-prove our relations in this field andget some investments."

The talks also dealt with tourist ex-change and it was noted that morefrequent flights could increase thenumber of tourists from Malta in Ser-bia and vice versa.

The Maltese prime minister con-firmed that Malta "might invest inSerbia, as it is investing in Montene-gro, through its state-owned enter-prises and in cooperation withChinese partners," the Serbian gov-ernment said.

Muscat stated that Malta was “verywell aware of the problems which EUcandidate countries are facing andthat it is ready to help,” and under-lined that the aspirations of Serbia'scitizens to membership in the EU arelegitimate, and that Malta it is alsoconducting a consistent policy andadvocates EU enlargement to thecountries that meet the criteria.

Roundup of News About Malta


In visit to Serbia PM Joseph Muscat says Malta backs Serbia's EU bid

In Montenegro, after a meeting with Mon-tenegro's Prime Minister Milo Đuka-

nović and the Minister of Economy ofMontenegro Vladimir Kavarić, Malta’sPrime Minister and the energy Ministersigned a declaration on economic and tech-nical cooperation between the two govern-ments and also visited the Mozuramountain, the site on which Enemalta willdevelop a wind farm in a joint venture withShanghai Electric Power, that Mizzi said,

would be fully operational by end of 2017.He added that works on the project are ex-pected to start this April and hoped to seethe first wind turbine operating by the endof 2016.

Following his meeting with Dr Muscat,PM Dukanović said: “This is an investmentworth more than EUR 80 million and itmeans the use of new energy sources andboosting of Montenegro’s production ca-pacities in the field of energy,”

Renewable Energy Development Ltd – ajoint venture between Enemalta and Chi-nese state owned Shanghai Electric Powerwon the contract to develop a wind farmlast year.The Prime Minister said that the profit En-

emalta would be making through this ven-ture would allow it to finally invest inMalta’s electricity distribution sector.

The wind farm project will consist of 23wind turbines, each with a capacity of twomegawatts. It is expected to generate100GW hour a year and will help reducecarbon dioxide emissions in Montenegro.

€80m. Enemalta investment in Montenegro wind farm

Prime Minister Dr JosephMuscat (left), with SerbianPM Aleksander Vucic

Dr Joseph Mus-cat (left), withMilo Đukanović,Montenegro'sPrime Minister

During a visit he made to Serbia and Montenegro inthe past few days, Prime Minister Dr Joseph Mus-cat, who was accompanied by energy Minister

Konrad Mizzi, not only discussed close relations between

In what he described as being a yearof consolidation and implementingthe budget measures in line with

Labour’s electoral manifesto, PrimeMinister Joseph Muscat said that for2016, the government has set itself thetask of prioritising the reform of Mal-ta’s national carrier, Air Malta. It iscommitted to ensure its workers andothers depending on it had a future.

Addressing members of the mediaand constituted bodies during the an-nual gathering organised by theLabour Party at its headquarters, the

Prime Minister said that the govern-ment would pursue further reformsduring the year, and that includes AirMalta.

He said that the airline’s intrinsicvalue for the domestic economy ishuge; therefore the government is com-mitted to ensure that it continues tomove forward.

Dr Joseph Muscat pointed out thatfollowing what he described as “a suc-cessful” strategic partnership thatturned around Enemalta, Air Malta isexpected to follow down the same

path.A few days later discussions about the

future of Air Malta started at a meetingbetween a committee appointed by thegovernment and Air Malta employeerepresentatives. The Ministry forTourism said that the scope for the dis-cussions is to effect a positive directionfor the airline.The PM said the government would en-

gage civil society in these reforms andeven submit itself to media scrutiny.“Mistakes will be made but we are com-mitted to rectify them,” he added.

He noted that 2014 and 2015 weretwo years of reforms in the energy andhealth sectors, the labour market andsocial reforms including civil liberties.He added that though today these re-forms are being taken for granted …people should remember they havetaken place over the last 30 months.

In order to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the dark episode known as theMaltese of New Caledonia or the SS Gange Incident of 1916, the Malta Post branch

in Victoria, Gozo, issued a special hand postmark (pictured right).A booklet, accompanied by a cassette, by Frank Zammit

from NSW - Il-Ballata tal-Maltin ta’ New Caledonia- regarding this historical black period in the his-tory of migration to Australia was published in1988.

The ordeal is still regarded among the mostturbulent of World War 1 in Europe that hadcast its long shadow even over Australia. Agroup of 214 migrants from the Maltese Is-lands was unjustly denied its legitimate expec-tations of a safe disembarkation after a longvoyage. Their trauma is now part of a reveredhistory in the annals of Maltese migration. Facing a tough political problem, then Australian

Prime Minister William Hughes who was franticallyfighting a losing battle against making conscription com-pulsory, first tried to delay the 214 Maltese legal migrants from disembarking in Fre-mantle harbour, then Melbourne and finally Sydney. Since the Gange was a Frenchship it was re-routed to Noumea, New Caledonia and after six months, the migrantswere allowed back to Sydney.

The Voice of the Maltese will follow up with more on this episode in other issues.


Roundup of News About Malta

Awoman has been appointed chair of Malta’s Broad-casting Authority (BA). Tanya Borg Cardona (pictured)

will be the first woman ever to fill this important rolesince the Authority was set up in 1961. She succeeds An-thony J. Tabone whose term as chairman expired at theend of last year. Prior to her appointment, Tanya Borg Cardona, who hasbeen described as a life skills consultant, was a consultantof the Housing Authority's project Equal 'Headstart' anda member of the board Yes to Europe.Prime Minister Joseph Muscat advised the President toappoint her after consultation with the Leader of the Op-

position.The Broadcasting Au-thority is an independ-ent body that monitorsall radio and televisionprogrammes that areproduced in Malta. Itoversees impartiality inparticular matters, andensures that legal andlicense obligations arefulfilled.

Malta appoints first female as head of Broadcasting Authority

A dark episode in our migration history remembered

The Malta Stock Exchange Index was oneof the world’s best performing stock in-

dices in 2015, ending the year at 4430, up to33%. Trading activity improved considerably with

equity and corporate bond trading volumes up61% and 38% respectively. These increaseswere also reflected in the total Market Capi-talisation Value which ended the year at €11.4billion, an increase of over €1 billion com-pared to the previous year’s value.

The Exchange’s chairman, Joseph Portellidescribed the MSE’s index outperformance“as a testimonial to the Maltese economybeing one of Europe’s best performers, toimproved corporate profits and an economyawash in liquidity. Consumer confidence isalso quite strong, which along with otherpositive economic fundamentals shouldbode well for the Maltese equity market.”

Govt. makes Air Malta reform apriority in a year of consolidation

Malta Stock Exchange amongworld’s best performers in 2015

B˙al ma jsir kull sena l-©img˙a li g˙ad-diet, il-mexxejja Maltin, il-Presidenttar-Repubblika, l-E.T. Marie-Louise

Coleiro Preca, il-Prim Ministru Joseph Mus-cat u l-Kap tal-OppoΩizzjoni Simon Busuttilkellhom laqg˙at separata mal-Korp Diplo-matiku biex filwaqt li taw l-awguri lil xulxing˙as-Sena l-Ìdida wasslu wkoll il-˙sibijiettag˙hom g˙all-©ejjieni.

Nhar il-Ìimg˙a mbag˙ad, il-Presidentltaqg˙et mal-konsli onorarji ta’ Malta barral-pajjiΩ u f’diskors g˙all-okkaΩjoni, wara litat arsa lejn l-aktar avvenimenti importantili saru kemm f’Malta u wkoll barra fl-2015,qalet li l-avvenimenti kienu importanti u

storiçi g˙al Malta, imma kien hemm il-˙tie©a li wie˙ed jistaqsi lilu nnifsu kif dakli ©ie maqbul fil-laqg˙at internazzjonalijista’ jinbidel f’azzjoni.

Hija Ωiedet li Malta wriet li tista’ tkun ta’pont bejn il-pajjiΩi ta’ kulturi, twemmin ufehmiet differenti, u ttamat li djalogu b˙aldan itejjem din is-sena u li Malta tibqa’sservi b˙ala çentru ta’ sliem.

Il-President qalet lill-konsli li hi tqis is-sehem tag˙hom fl-iΩvilupp tal-pajjiΩ bħalawie˙ed importanti ˙afna, g˙ax g˙andhom l-opportunità li j©ibu n-nies flimkien, jg˙inubiex ikun hawn il-paçi u l-g˙aqda, u jkunukatalisti għall-bidla li hi tant hi me˙tie©a.

Hija ˙e©©ithom biex juΩaw il-kuntatti lig˙andhom fil-pajjiΩi rispettivi fejn qed is-ervu ˙alli jippromwovu lil Malta u dakkollu li g˙andha x’toffri lill-investitur bar-ranin, g˙ax Malta tin˙tie© dejjem aktar in-vestiment barrani. Il-President qalet lill-konsli li tqis is-sehem

tag˙hom fl-iΩvilupp tal-pajjiΩ bħala wie˙edimportanti ˙afna, g˙ax g˙andhom l-oppor-tunità li j©ibu n-nies flimkien, jg˙inu biexikun hawn il-paçi u l-g˙aqda, u jkunu katal-isti għall-bidla li tant hi me˙tie©a.

... idur g˙alih id-dubbien, jg˙id il-qawlMalti. U kemm hu veru dan jixhed dak lise˙˙ f’dawn l-a˙˙ar jiem meta tfajla minnSqallija li ilha Ωmien tg˙ix Malta tilfet˙ajjitha waqt li kienet qed issuq mutur ukellha ˙abta ma’ trakk.

Il-funeral u d-difna tat-tfajla saru f’Malta

u kif kien mistenni l-qraba tag˙ha ©ewMalta biex jag˙tuha l-a˙˙ar tislima.Waqt li dawn kienu qed jag˙mlu dan, jid-

her li fi Sqallija, kien hemm min jaf sewwax’kien qed ji©ri u approfitta ru˙u biexda˙lilhom id-dar u serqilhom kull ma kell-hom.


Il-President t˙e©©e© lill-Konsli Onorarji jippromwovu lil Malta

Il-Prim Ministru Joseph Muscat ukolllaqg˙a lill-Konsli Onorarji fil-Ber©a ta'

Kastilja, fejn appellalhom biex jitkellmudwar ir-riΩultati poΩittivi li kisbet Malta fil-pajjiΩi li jirrappreΩetaw. Huwa sa˙aq li filwaqt li pajjiΩi o˙ra jinsabu

g˙arkupptejhom, ekonomikament u poli-tikalment Malta qed tikseb riΩultat poΩittivwara l-ie˙or u li fl-a˙˙ar bdejna naraw xitfisser stabbilità ekonomika u politka. Qal lidan wasal sforz ta' ˙idma bil-g˙aqal unteli©enti. Il-Prim Ministru semma li fix-xhur li ©ejjin,

se tissokta t-t˙ejjija g˙all-Presidenza tal-UEli se tokkupa Malta u li Malta qed tkun l-ewwel li titkellem dwar çerti kwestjonijiet.

Min-na˙a tal-Konsli, Godwin Bencinisemma s-servizz effettiv li jag˙tu u qal li danix-xog˙ol ma jistax isir ming˙ajr interventuman u li jag˙mlu dmirijiethom b'xejn, ˙a©ali hi diffiçli mmens. G˙alhekk xtaq lijing˙ataw l-istima li jist˙oqilhom alli jkunumotivati li jkomplu jag˙tu servizz a˙jar millidi©à qeg˙din jag˙tu.

Qal li mhux jappella biex jing˙ataw priv-ile©©i diplomatiçi, imma sempliçiment lijkunu iktar rikonoxxuti u mog˙tija stima.

Ritratt tal-okkaΩjoni. Il-Pres-ident ta’ Malta Marie-LouiseColeiro Preca flimkien mal-Konsli Onorarji fil-Palazz

Il-˙mar il-mag˙kus ....

Il-PM jappella biexil-Konsli jitkellmu

dwar ir-riΩultatipoΩittivi ta’ Malta

Ìie kkonfermat li Mintoff mhux biss˙alla l-marka tieg˙u fuq il-GΩejjer Maltin,imma wkoll fuq l-Ingilterra.

Dan ©ie svelat mill-Oxford Dictionaryof National Biography (ODNB) li nkludalill-eks-Prim Ministru Dom Mintoff fostil-222 persuna mda˙˙la dan l-a˙˙ar f’danid-Dizzjunarju li jinkludi nies li ˙allewmarka fuq il-˙ajja fl-Ingilterra. Il- 222persuna li Ωdiedu huma dawk li mietumatul l-2012. L-ODNB jinkludi l-bijografiji ta’ 59,879

individwu miktubin mnn 14,188 kon-tributur. Ta’ Mintoff inkitbet mill-Profes-sur Henry Frendo.

Mintoff kien g˙amel Ωmien jistudjaf’Hertford College f’Oxford, l-Ingliterra.

Mintoff ˙alla l-marka tieg˙ufl-Ingilterra


Mix-xena tal-˙ajja Maltija 2

Malta fost l-aqwa

Il-popolarita’ ta’ Malta fost il-barranin kull ma jmur qed tik-ber. Dan huwa rifless f’dak li qed jidher dwar Malta fil-midja barranija, kif ukoll jo˙ro© minn diversi st˙arri© li jsir.

Hekk, per eΩempju, is-sit eletroniku popolari ˙afna fost dawkli jivvjag©aw, Travel+ Leisure, f’Lulju li g˙adda kien ikklas-sifika lil Malta ma l-aqwa g˙axar GΩejjer g˙al dawk li jridujmorru f’pajjiΩ biex jirrilassaw. Fost il-GΩejjer tal-EwropaMalta ikklassifikat fit-tieni post mill-aqwa ˙ames gΩejjerEwropej. Il-gΩira Griega, Santorini, ikklassifikat fl-ewwel post.Sadanitant Malta re©g˙et marret ukoll tajjeb ˙afna fost l-aqwa

GΩejjer g˙all-irtirar. Infatt skont l-Indiçi Globali Annwali tal-Irtirar g˙all-2016, Malta hija fost l-aktar 23 pajjiΩ ideali g˙all-irtirar.

Dan l-indiçi hu bbaΩat fuq diversi kriterji, inkluΩ ix-xiri u l-kirijiet tal-postijiet, il-benefiççji u l-iskontijiet, l-ispejjeΩ finanz-jarji biex wie˙ed jg˙ix ˙ajja diçenti, id-divertiment, il-kuratas-sa˙˙a, l-integrazzjoni, l-infrastruttura, il-klima u l-mod ta’g˙ajxien. F’dan ir-rapport Malta ©iet ikklassifikata fil-11-ilpost. Il-Panama huwa l-iktar pajjiΩ ideali g˙all-irtirar.

Flimkien ma’ Spanja, il-Portugall, Franza u l-Irlanda, Maltaspikkat fil-kategorija tal-infrastruttura u qasmet l-ewwel poΩiz-zjoni bl-istess punti mal-pajjiΩi msemmija. Hekk skont dan l-in-diçi Malta g˙andha toroq moderni, sistema ta’ trasport pubblikumifruxa, u servizz ta’ internet fl-istess livelli tal-Amerika.

Anke The New York Times tefg˙et ˙arsitha fuq Malta u metakienet qed tirrakkomanda t-52 destinazzjoni li l-Amerikani kell-hom iΩuru semmiet il-GΩejjer Maltin fit-tielet post.

Is-sit tal-©urnal popolari Amerikan, li hu mag˙ruf li fl-IstatiUniti g˙andu çirkolazzjoni ta’ 1,379,806 kopja, jiddeskrivi lilMalta b˙ala l-GΩira Mediterranja “bi klima mill-aqwa, bajjieteççellenti, b’tempji megalitiçi u b’kulturi distintivi.”

L-istess sit jg˙id li minkejja li f’pajjiΩna nitkellmu b’Ωew©ilsna uffiçjali, inkluΩ l-IngliΩ, ftit Amerikani s’issa g˙adhom-skoprew il-faxxinu ta’ Malta.

Dan il-©urnal jirreferi g˙al G˙awdex b˙ala gΩira “iktartrankwilla, b’kosta drammatika mimlija postijiet ideali g˙all-g˙adds” u Kemmuna “ming˙ajr karozzi, b’lukanda u ftit resi-denti.”

L-artiklu jfakkar ukoll kif f’pajjiΩna wie˙ed jista’ jsegwi l-passi tal-koppja Angelina Jolie u Brad Pitt “li qattg˙u l-qamar-il-g˙asel tag˙hom fil-film ‘By the Sea’ f’G˙awdex, li servab˙ala post iktar ekonomiku, imma daqstant romantiku, minflokin-na˙a t’isfel ta’ Franza.”

L-artiklu jie˙u lill-qarrejja wkoll iktar fl-img˙oddi u jfakkarkif G˙awdex serva wkoll b˙ala sett g˙all-films ‘The Whale’ u‘The Da Vinci Code.’

Massimo Tivisini, Sqalli li ilu Ωmien jg˙ix f’Malta kien tefa’g˙ajnejh fuq tfajla Maltija u rnexxielu jaqbad mag˙ha. Biss wara

xi Ωmien din telqitu. IΩda hu m’aççettax ir-rifjut tag˙ha u baqa’ jikt-bilha u jsegwiha. Wara xi Ωmien din it-tfajla ma fel˙itx aktar u rrap-purtatu lill-pulizija u meta dan kompla bl-a©ir tieg˙u ttella’ l-Qorti ulaqqat 30 xahar ˙abs.

IΩda jidher li fil-˙abs mhux talli ma ©iex riformat, iΩda lanqas biss ir-realizza l-iΩball li kien g˙amel. Tant li malli are© mill-˙abs mill-ewwelkiteb lil din it-tfajla bit-tama li din tikkuntattjah. Meta ma g˙amlitx hekk,mill-©did beda jiffastidjaha. Tant iffittaha, li din mill-©did irrapportatu..u mill-©did intbag˙at il-˙abs. Din id-darba g˙al erbg˙in xahar.

Tg˙id la jo˙ro© mill-˙abs ser jer©a’ jag˙mel l-istess, jew forsi jirri-forma ru˙u billi l-Qorti ordnat biex l-imputat jirçievi trattament psik-jatriku matul iΩ-Ωmien li se jqatta fil-˙abs ta' Kordin?

Is-soltu l-Awguri li jing˙atawminn dinjitarji fil-Milied u l-A˙˙ar tas-sena ftit li xejn i©ibu

kummenti. IΩda mhux hekk se˙˙wara id-diskors tal-Awguri tal-Ewwel tas-Sena mill-Prim MinistruMalti, li din id-darba sar bi stil dif-ferenti billi Dr Muscat m’g˙amilxdan id-diskors mill-Uffiççju tieg˙u,iΩda g˙aΩel fost kollox kçina ta’ kop-pja Ωag˙Ωug˙a.

Çerta midja g˙amlet festa s˙i˙adwar hekk. Qabblet it-tul tad-diskorstal-Prim Ministru Malti (madwar 20minuta) u dawk ta’ kapijiet ta’ pajjizio˙ra li kienu ta’ madwar ˙amesminuti. Semmew li dik il-kçinakienet ta’ çerta ditta u lanqas kienet˙ar©et g˙all-bejg˙. Issemmew ukolll-ispejjeΩ li saru biex jin©ibdu çertixeni... u mitt ˙a©’o˙ra.Min-na˙a tieg˙u g˙all-ewwel darba

f’okkaΩjonijiet b˙al dawn, kellnaprotesta mill-Partit Nazzjonalista, linsista mal-Awtorita’ tax-Xandir libid-diskors tal-Prim Minstru kienin˙oloq sbilanç fl-istazzjon nazzjon-ali min˙abba li fid-diskors tieg˙ukien parti©©jan, g˙ax fih semmapro©etti "kontroversjali" b˙all-powerstation li ta˙dem bil-gass u l-Univer-sità Amerikana (˙alliha li kien hemmmin sostna li fil-passat fl-awguri tal-Ewwel tas-Sena kienu saru diskorsisimili).

IΩΩeffen fin-nofs ukoll l-ArçisqofMons Charles Scicluna li waqt inter-vista fuq TVM irrefera g˙ad-diskorsta’ Muscat u qal li jispera li meta l-Prim Ministru jid˙ol fi kçina dintkun ta’ veru.

Immedjata wie©eb fuq FacebookGlenn Bedingfield, membru tal-is-taff tal-Prim Ministru (ta˙t) li kiteb“L-Arçisqof jawgura li l-Prim Min-istru meta jid˙ol fi kçina tkun ta’veru. Tal-inqas il-Prim Ministru mada˙alx f’xi kamra tas-sodda tat-tfal”.

Din kienet referenza çara g˙all-kaΩijiet ta’ pedefolija ta’ xi membrital-kleru, u sintendi qam battibekks˙i˙ fuq il-kumment ta’ Bedingfieldbil-PN jinsisti li l-Prim Ministrukellu jiççensurah u sa˙ansitra jne˙-˙ih mill-istaff tieg˙u. Imbag˙ad dan

wassal g˙al diskussjoni s˙i˙a fejnkien hemm dawk li nsistew li l-lib-erta’ tal-espressjoni jekk tapplikag˙all-Arçisqof kellha wkoll tapplikag˙all-membri tal-pubbliku.Insomma bdejna s-sena l-©dida bit-

tajjeb... li milli tidher se nkompluhabil-batibekki bejn il-partiti politiçi liminflok ikkonçentrati fuq materjimportanti b˙all-ekonomija, l-edu-kazzjoni, is-sa˙˙a, ecç jintilfu fuq˙wejje© sekondarji bil-midja kultantaktar tag˙mel emfasi fuq dawn il-˙wejje© milli l-essenzjal.Li m’humiex jirrejalizzaw dawn il-

politiçi hu li meta jaqbdu jixlu lilxuxlin, b˙al, liema karozza ta˙li l-aktar fjuwil: jekk hux l-ewwel kar-ozza jew it-tieni karozza tal-PrimMinistru, jew jekk eks Ministru tal-PN g˙amilx ˙azin li jumejn qabel l-elezzjoni, xtara karozza g˙all-prezzmiΩeru ta’ inqas minn elfejn Ewro,meta ftit tas-snin qabel l-istess min-istru nefaq aktar minn €25,000 biextinxtara. Meta jag˙mlu dan mhuxjakkwistaw l-appo©© g˙all-partittag˙hom qed jag˙mlu, imma jitilfu l-kredibbilta’.Mhux ta’ b’xejn li fi st˙arri© dan l-

a˙˙ar il-ma©©oranza tal-Maltin qaluli m’g˙andhomx fiduçja fil-politiçi.

Iffissa fuqha u spiçça l-˙abs

Ma kienux Awguri!

Malta bl-akbar tkabbir ekonomikumill-Indipendenza… jg˙id il-PM

Fi djalogu li kellu mal-imsie˙batal-Kamra tal-Kummerç, il-Prim

Ministru Joseph Muscat qal li bil-miΩuri li ttie˙du, fosthom fil-qasamtal-ener©ija, fl-a˙˙ar sentejn u nofsil-pajjiΩ esperjenza l-akbar tkabbirekonomiku mill-Indipendenza ‘lhawn. Ûied li s-suççess ekonmikujiddependi ˙afna mir-riformi f’çertisetturi u mill-istabbilita` f’oqsmao˙ra.

Min-naha tieg˙u, il-president tal-Kamrat al-Kummerç, Anton Borgqal li l-pajjiΩ ma jistax jistrie˙ fuqis-suççess ekonmiku fl-a˙˙ar 10snin u lanqas fil-preΩent, u sostna liqed jistenna aktar ro˙s fit-tariffi tal-ener©ija g˙ax il-prezz taΩ-Ωejt naqasg˙al $30 kull barmil.

John Dyson Heydon AC QC, a formerJustice of the High Court of Australiawas appointed as the sole Royal

Commissioner to lead the Royal Commis-sion into trade union governance and cor-ruption on the recommendation of theAbbott Government. Justice Heydonhanded down the Commission's interimreport in December 2015.

Despite pressure from unions and theLabor Party for him to stand down be-cause of his alleged affiliation with theLiberal Party, Justice Heydon decided to

continue.The commission ran for 21 months, and

heard from 505 witnesses over 155 daysof public hearings. Its six-volume reportmade 79 law reform recommendations, in-cluding the creation of a new union’swatchdog with its own budget and inves-tigative powers similar to the AustralianSecurities and Investments Commission.The report also recommended right ofentry laws be tightened, and jail terms foroffering, giving or receiving bribes.

Mr. Heydon, in his report, said the case

studies examined by the commission re-vealed "widespread misconduct that hastaken place in every polity in Australia ex-cept for the Northern Territory". Mr. Hey-don said the referral of 45 people, unions,or companies for investigation should beconsidered only "the small tip of an enor-mous iceberg" and believed the existenceof a Royal Commission had caused only atemporary reduction in misconduct.

The former judge said it would be "ut-terly naive" to think that the commissionhad uncovered all wrongdoing, or thatwrongdoing had been the work of "a fewrogue unions, or a few rogue officials. Themisconduct exhibits great variety. It iswidespread. It is deep-seated. Nor can thelist be regarded as complete," he said.He said it was hard to identify most types

of misconduct, as parties had a strong in-centive to stay silent and whistleblowerscould face reprisal.

In a swift response to the commission'sfinal report, the Turnbull Government an-nounced it would ask Parliament to ur-gently pass laws recommended by Mr.Heydon, to re-establish the AustralianBuilding and Construction Commission.

CFMEU national construction secretaryDave Noonan said the report's recommen-dations had merely endorsed Liberal Partyindustrial relations policy.

We talk about what a great country Australia is but when itcomes to pensioners Australia is amongst the worst per-

formers in the world for financial security of older people. Morethan a third of Australian pensioners are living below thepoverty line. The findings of the OECD report Pensions at aglance 2015, compares Australia with 33 other countries.

Australia was ranked second lowest on social equity, with 36per cent of pensioners living below poverty line, which the re-port defined as half the relevant country’s median household in-

come.The Australian government spends 3.5 per cent of GDP on

pension, below the OEDC average of 7.9 per cent. The annualpayment is about $22,000 for a single person and $34,000 for acouple with 2.25 million Australians claiming the pension.

The National Seniors chief executive, Michael O’Neil saidpension had gone backwards in real terms and many older peo-ple had not accumulated enough superannuation to supplementthe benefits.

A quick glimpse at AustraliaA quick glimpse at Australia


Pensioner worst off in Australia

Report from the Trade Union Royal Commission

A quick glimpse at AustraliaA quick glimpse at Australia


Deputy Nationals leader BarnabyJoyce (right)who is set to becomeAustralia’s deputy Prime Minister

when Warren Truss resigns later this yearsays he hopes Australian politics doesn’tbecome “sterile” and overly political cor-rect. "I like that Australia is to the point.One of the great things about Australianpolitics is our informality and directnessand I'd hate to lose that - even if there canbe faux pas."Mr. Joyce said Minister Peter Dutton had

made a "stupid" mistake by sending vet-eran journalist Samantha Maiden a textcalling her a "mad f---ing witch".

It is understood Mr. Dutton thought hewas sending the text to Mr. Jamie BriggsMP, but instead sent it to Maiden, who hadbeen highly critical of the ex-minister in acolumn published on a Sunday newspaper. "For a robust member of the fourth estate

like Samantha, she would think this waswater off a duck's back and pretty funny."Mr. Briggs was forced to resign after ayoung public servant complained abouthis behaviour at a Hong Kong bar in No-

vember. Sources have said Mr. Briggs toldthe woman she had "piercing eyes" andtried to kiss her on the cheek, while otherssaid it was her neck.Mr. Briggs sent a photo of the woman to

colleagues that was later leaked to themedia, a move that drew an angry re-sponse from Prime Minister Turnbull.“Such behaviour could deter women fromcoming forward with complaints aboutworkplace misbehavior “the PM said.

Sterilepolitics

Police in Australia are saying that theRebels Australia’s biggest bikie club is

in disarray. The membership shake-up hasbeen triggered by tough anti-bike laws andongoing leadership vacuum, which policehave utilized to aid their crackdown on theclub.

Police believe the instability within theclub ranks has been created by the absenceof the gang’s president of more than fourdecades, Alex Vella. The Australian govern-ment cancelled Mr. Vella’s visa while hewas holidaying in Malta in 2014.

The Federal Chamber of Automotive In-dustries (FCAI) said 1,155,408 new ve-

hicles in Australia were sold in 2015, a 3.8percent lift from the previous year. The re-sult is 1.7 percent better than the old recordof 1,136,227 set in 2013. Toyota was the top selling brand cornering

17.8 percent of the market. It was followedby Mazda, Holden, Hyundai and MitsubishiNew car sales rose in NSW, ACT, Queens-

land, Tasmania and Victoria but fell in the

Northern Territory, South Australia andWestern Australia.

According to the Federal Chamber of Au-tomotive Industries the record 2015 result re-flected a healthy economy and increasingcompetition in the new-car marketplace.FCAI chief executive Tony Weber said the

market in Australia is just so competitivewith 67 brands and over 400 models, and theservice backing that you now get with a newcar also has a very strong appeal.

The Turnbull – Australian governmenthas rejected a request from the United

States for more military help in the MiddleEast campaign against Islamic State.

In December US Defence Secretary AshCarter asked coalition partners fighting theextremist group in Iraq and Syria for agreater commitment following the Paris at-tacks.

But Defence Minister Marise Payne re-mained firm on Australia’s existing levelof assistance. “The government has ad-vised secretary Carter that our existingcontributions will continue”. Australia has more than 400 personnel in

the Middle East, carrying out various roles.Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) jetswere deployed to the region to carry out airstrikes against terrorists in Iraq in October2014.

More than 200,000 people have beenkilled fighting IS and other Islamists.

Bikie clubin disarray

MICHELLE ROWLAND MPFEDERAL MEMBER

FOR GREENWAY

Proudly serving the areas of:

Acacia Gardens, Blacktown*, Girraween,Glenwood, Kellyville Ridge, Kings Langley,

Kings Park, Lalor Park, Parklea, PendleHill, Prospect*, Quakers Hill*, Riverstone,

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Toongabbie*, Vineyard*Parts of

230 Prospect Hwy, Seven Hills 2147Ph: 9671 4780

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @mrowlandmp

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More cars on the road

No more troops for Middle East

Since I had not been able to fulfilmy dream of playing for thisgreat club, Melita Eagles, and af-

ter twice being encouraged to run asa committee member for the club, Ithought that running the Eagles’Facebook page was going to be part ofmy strategy to assist and promotethis club to become an Australianfootball powerhouse again. I am aware that things cannot be

the same as they were back in thedays when the old National SoccerLeague was alive and kicking, but justto see my beloved Parramatta MelitaEagles become one of the strongest, ifnot the strongest club in New SouthWales or in Australia for that matter,would be fantastic and a dream ofmine. Unfortunately, since the birth of theHyundai A-League back in 2005, andwith clubs like the Western SydneyWanderers FC and Sydney FC, whocompete in this competition andhave a strong fan base, it is becomingmore and more difficult for this onceprestigious club of ours to attract bigcrowds as it once did. Six thousand spectators at the Ea-gles’ home matches would be nor-mality back in the National SoccerLeague days. I had been to every 1stgrade Eagles match but one last sea-son, and to say that our club’s spec-tator attendance last season was pooris an understatement. What was

worse is there were certainly no morethan 100-200 people at the groundper home match;most were support-ing the away team.Granville and Dis-tricts Soccer Foot-ball Association(GDSFA), who cur-rently own andrun our club (nowrenamed Parramat-ta FC), have placedthe club in a strongposition in termsof reviving and lift-ing it back into thetop flight of NewSouth Wales Foot-ball (New SouthWales Premier Lea-gue). However, theGDSFA is strug-gling to obtain astrong fan base,and since the Maltese people nolonger own this Maltese club, thestrong Maltese supporter base has di-

minished immensely. Only a dozen or soof us Maltese regu-larly attended Parra-matta’s matches dur-ing the 2015 season.The Greeks, the Croa-tians, Serbians, Mace-donians, and Italiansare still crazy abouttheir football clubs inthis competition, sowhere have our Mal-tese supporters disap-peared to and whatare they occupyingtheir time with thesedays?It is so difficult to

comprehend that anelite club like ours,with such a rich his-tory and so muchsuccess, and currentlyplaying at the top

level of New South Wales Football, issuch an unknown entity these days.It really hurts to think that all theblood, sweat, and tears that our ded-icated club founders and volunteersshed throughout the 50’s, 60’s, 70’s,80’s, and 90’s to get the club to itsmost comprehensive status, seems tohave amounted to nothing.Our Maltese passion is second to

none, and we live and breathe foot-ball day and night. It is a fact that wehave supporters out there, as justfewer than 2,000 people are currently

following the Parramatta Melita Ea-gles Facebook page. However, it isjust a matter of finding these support-ers and getting them off theircouches and back into the stadiumseating to cheer on our team, thatdesperately needs our support.While it is not the GDSFA’s fault

that the A-League competition over-laps into almost half of the NewSouth Wales Premier League season,it is imperative for the club to thinkstrategically in promotional terms,and to attract, not just the old sup-porters back, back also new ones. The GDSFA is living under a goldmine of a sporting venue, but I’mafraid it is just not being utilised wellenough. Melita Stadium, located inSouth Granville, includes one of thebest floodlit grounds in Sydney, alarge grandstand, bar, function roomwith games area, point of sale facili-ties, and another large room formerlyused as a restaurant known as “TheEagles’ Nest”.



AnthonyTheuma

Making the Eaglesa powerhouse again

Eagles 'Till I Die...’

My Story

Anthony’s late grandfather, Anthony Snr. withformer Melita Eagles’ player Ray Farrugia in 1978

Anthony playing is owntrumpet ...for a goodcause; blasting away theInnu Melita Eagles


Ihave some suggestions to make to the GDSFA in orderto promote and improve the status of the club.• Reinstate the mascot in the club name to ParramattaEagles FC and Parramatta Ladyhawks FC. I believe theclub has lost its identity since being named ParramattaFC, with people thinking that this old Maltese club haddissolved. I have many times asked friends and othersabout Parramatta FC, and to be honest, most if not all,were not aware that Parramatta FC are the ParramattaMelita Eagles of old. Even the Football New South Wales sportswriter report-ing for the Round 14 Heritage Round match againstBlacktown City FC, throughout the entire article wrotethat our Eagles were called Parramatta City. Our clubneeds to distinguish itself from the other Parramattafootball clubs.• Source a major (front of kit) sponsor, and attract othersponsorship deals to the club, informing them of the in-centives they could receive in return for their partner-ship with the club.• Establish a supporters’ club/group and engage the sup-porters in all the club’s activities. I have commenced es-tablishing the Parramatta Melita Eagles Supporters’Group with the aim of reviving our beloved footballclub, giving it a new lease of life and a fresh beginning,in which our group (once set up) can come together toshow our passion and love for our club. Our group also aims to bring the Maltese communityback together, attracting old and new supporters, young

and old, to do what they love doing, watching our Ea-gles play football. I have finalised a group logo that hasgone down well with many people, and plans are cur-rently in their early stages, but more support is neededfrom our supporters to assist me in making this happen. Joining forces in the future with the GDSFA and otherMaltese groups such as the Maltese-Australians’ YouthCommittee NSW group would be a plan once our sup-porters’ group is up and running.• Target talented Australian-Maltese/Maltese players toplay for our club. While we encourage and welcomeplayers of all cultures to join this club, I believe it is veryimportant to include Maltese players in the squads of aclub with Maltese heritage and origins. History hasshown that this has proved quite effective in attractingthe Maltese supporters to the Eagles’ matches, with theprime examples being Joe Cilia and Ray ‘Zazu’ Farrugia,and in recent times Patrick Gatt and Luke Grima.• Get involved with the surrounding councils, such asAuburn Municipal Council, and Holroyd City and Par-ramatta City Councils, to help promote the club andlure the locals to the Eagles’ matches.• Hold an annual preseason tournament comprising ofthe seven remaining Maltese clubs left in Australia, theybeing, Parramatta FC (NSW), Mounties Wanderers FC(NSW), Oak Flats Falcons FC (NSW), Prospect UnitedSoccer Club (NSW), Sunshine George Cross FC (VIC),Green Gully FC (VIC), Morwell Pegasus Soccer Club(VIC) and Altona North Soccer Club (VIC). Surely a tour-nament like this would attract a crowd, and the tourna-ment could be named “Tazza Maltija” (The MalteseCup).

*from page 18

This restaurant once catered the best of Maltese cuisine, and if reopened itwould most certainly attract peopleand cash flow back into the club. Allthese stadium facilities were plannedand built by the blood, sweat andtears of the Maltese people, and it isa real shame to see these facilitiesbeing wasted like this.For me, the highlight of the Eagles’

2015 season apart from deservedlyavoiding relegation, and their em-phatic wins over Sydney Olympic FC(1-0 at Belmore Sports Ground) andNew South Wales Premier LeagueChampions, Bonnyrigg White EaglesFC (5-3 at Melita Stadium), has to beFootball New South Wales’ introduc-tion of the Inaugural Heritage Roundthat took place in Round 14.

I have to admit the GDSFA did afantastic job in organising and cele-brating the rich heritage of our greatclub by honouring our past players,coaches, co-founders, and volunteerstaff before the first grade side wentinto battle with our fiercest rivals,Blacktown City FC, at Melita Stadiumthat afternoon. I’m sure we melted hearts and

brought a tear to the eye when myband colleague, George Attard, and Isurprised the crowd by blasting outthe “Innu Melita Eagles” through ourtrumpets to top off the celebrations.Although our Eagles went down 1-0that day, it was a great sight to see theplayers proudly wearing the club's in-augural 1956 retro kits. The only negative on that day wasthat no Maltese food or beverageswere served, however, I was privileged

to be contacted by the GDSFA prior tothe event, requesting to pass on con-tact information of former players tobe invited for the celebrations. The large list of players I gladly in-formed the GDSFA of ranged fromthe early 1980’s to 2012. I am alreadysourcing a new list of former playersto be prepared for the 2016 celebra-tions, which coincidentally mark theclub’s 60th anniversary.So this is my story about the club Ihold dearly to my heart, and willcontinue to support.Anybody who has any queries or isinterested in joining the ParramattaMelita Eagles Supporters’ Group is in-vited to get in touch with methrough the Parramatta Melita EaglesFacebook page.

COME ON THE EAGLES!

Pictured: Melita Eagles Heritage Group made up of coaches, administrators and players in 2015

Suggestions

Aktar eΩempji ta’Verbi S˙a˙

FEHEM FERAÓ LAGÓAB SAMA’

MOD IMPERATIV

ifhem ifra˙ ilg˙ab isma’ifhmu ifirhu ilag˙bu isimg˙u

MOD INDIKATIVIMPERFETT

JienaIntiHuwaHijaAhna Intom Huma

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Biex tikteb Malti tajjebIl-konjugazzjoni tal-Verbi (Mudelli)

In response to a number of inquiries,The Voice of the Maltese wishes to ad-

vice that we can now supply hardcopies in colour of our magazine to ourreaders at a price. So anybody inter-ested in acquiring copies of the maga-zine can communicate with uspersonally or by email to: [email protected].

The magazine can also be delivered bypost. As the cost of postage varies oneis kindly requested to get in touch withus to work out the details.

Readers can also request a printed copy of

The Voice of The Maltese magazine by post

na˙demta˙demja˙demta˙demna˙dmuta˙dmuja˙dmu

nag˙Ωeltag˙Ωeljag˙Ωeltag˙Ωelnag˙Ωlutag˙Ωlujag˙Ωlu

nista’tista’jista’tisa’nistg˙utisg˙ujistg˙u

nifhemtifhemjifhemtifhemnifhmutifhmujifhmu

nifra˙tifra˙jifra˙ttifra˙nifir˙utifir˙ujifir˙u

nilg˙abtilg˙abjilg˙abtilg˙abnilag˙butilag˙bujilag˙bu

nisma’tisma’jisma’tisma’nisimg˙utisimg˙ujisimg˙u

fhimtfhimtfehemfehmetfhemnafhimtufehmu

fra˙tfra˙tfera˙fer˙etfra˙nafra˙tufer˙u

lg˙abtlg˙abtlag˙ablag˙betlg˙abnalg˙abtufag˙bu

smajtsmajtsama’semg˙etsmajnasmajtusemg˙u

˙dimt˙dimt˙adem˙admet˙dimna˙dimtu˙admu

g˙aΩiltg˙aΩiltg˙aΩel g˙aΩletg˙Ωilnag˙aΩiltug˙aΩlu

stajtstajltsata’ seg˙letstajnastajtusetg˙u



Illum se nibdew sezzjoni o˙ra impor-tanti, il-Konjugazzjoni tal-Verbi u se

nag˙mlu dan billi nuΩaw xi Mudelli.Bejn din il-˙ar©a u o˙rajn ta’ warajha senuru eΩempji tal-Verbi S˙a˙, dawk Torox,id-Dg˙ajfin, il-Kwadriletteri u l-Imnisslin.

Nibdew bil-Verbi S˙a˙ÓADEM GÓAZEL SATA`

MOD IMPERATIV

a˙dem ag˙Ωel ista’a˙dmu ag˙Ωlu istg˙u

MOD INDIKATIV

IMPERFETT


PERFETT

(Fil-˙ar©a li jmiss nittrattaw il-Verbi Torox)

Il-Gozo Youth Wind Band fi˙dan il-Gozo Youth Wind and

Orchestra se tippreΩenta l-hekkmag˙ruf b˙ala l-Bands AroundThe World, attivita` li se titella’fl-Oratorju Don Bosco Victoria,G˙awdex fil-31 ta’ Jannar fitmiem il-festa ta’ San GwannBosco. G˙alhekk dawk il-Mal-tin mill-Awstralja u l-Kanada lijaqraw regolarment il-magazineThe Voice of the Maltese u li nafuli b˙alissa jinsabu f’Malta fuqbtala qed ji©u m˙e©©a li jattendu.Il-programm se jinkludi siltiet

u arran©amenti popolari, fos-thom mill-Carmen ta’ GeorgeBize, siltiet mill-musicals Evi-ta, u In a Persian Market ta’Ketelbey li g˙al xi Ωmien kienjg˙ix G˙awdex u ˙alla warajhix-xog˙ol popolari tieg˙u ‘Bel-ls across the Meadow’ lijing˙ad li kiteb waqt passi©©atabejn Santa Luçia u Ta’ Pinu.

Ikun hemm ukoll, muΩika ta’Ennio Morricone, Tom Jones inConcert, u muΩika mill-filmStar Wars. M’g˙andux jonqosli tispikka wkoll il-medleyBands Around The World li l-banda mag˙mula minn madwar50 muΩiçist Ωag˙Ωug˙ uΩag˙Ωug˙a ta˙t id-direzzjoni ta’Mro Joseph Grech se ddoqqqabel jindaqq l-Innu finali lilSan Gwann Bosco.

Bands Around The Worldfid-Don Bosco, G˙awdex

L-g˙aqdiet tal-Maltin, u jew min irid jag˙mel xi reklamfuq The Voice of the Maltese huwa m˙e©©e© biex jg˙arraflill-diri©enza, inkella jibg˙at il-materjal li jrid li ji©i ip-pubbikat mil-inqas ©img˙a qabel il-pubblikazzjoni tal-magazine. Dan ji©i pubblikat it-Tlieta t kull ©imag˙tejn.

Maltese Language School of NSW

For the best education in Maltese Language,

Learn from qualified professional Maltese Teachers.

Enrol at the Maltese Language School of NSW,

Run by Maltese Community Council of NSW

Enrolment Day: 23rd January 2016

At the Horsley Park Public School

10.00 am to Noon

Qualified teachers are urgently required

For more information contact Mary Pace Feraud 9601 2180

[email protected]

The umbre ll a b ody of Ma ltese A ssoca it io ns i n NSW

The Maltese Community Council


The Xag˙ra Associationof NSW Inc.

INVITES YOU TO COME & CELE-

BRATE: Australia Dayat a Dinner Dance on Janu-

ary 23, 2016Venue: Mandavilla Function Centre1788

The Horsley Drive, Horsley ParkFood: 3-Course Meal, beer, wine, soft

drinks, tea, coffee, pastizzi; also antipastiplus fruit platters

Entertainment: provided by JoeApap Contact:

Josephine/Ray: 9627 4182, Mob: 0439974 182; M'Anne Teuma: 9627 4641

Whom will you nominate this year?Maltese Welfare (NSW) Inc.

The 16th Annual - Quiet AchieversNight of Recognition

(To be held during Seniors’ Week 2016)

The Maltese community extends recognition and gives thanks to

our seniors once a year.Ask for a nomination form. Tel 02 9631.9295.

This event is being sponsord by

Community NewsCommunity News

The Maltese Guild of SA IncCordially invites you to our

AUSTRALIA DAY LUNCHEON 2016

At the Maltese Cultural Centre on Tuesday 26th January.

Doors open at 9 am. Lunch At 12.15 pm.:BBQ followed by dessert. Members $7;

non members $10 Children $5

To Book Phone or See: The President: Joseph Briffa on 0421 791 327 The Secretary: Rita Bornhoeft on 0401 860 632The Vice President: Mary Craus on 0420 699 617

One can also phone on Tuesdays only at our office from9am to 2.45pm on 8243 0868, or see anyone from the com-mittee, or again look on any of the Newsletter’s for home

phone numbers.

NOTE!! THE LUNCH MENU CAN CHANGE IF NEEDED TO BE CHANGED

Australia Day 2016 Special Event

Date: Sunday 24th January

Time: 4.00pm to 6.00pm.

Place: Holroyd Function Centre (Boronia Wattle Room)

17 Miller Street Merrylands NSW, Lv2, (Parking available on site)

Light refreshments will be served afterwards

T he um brel la body of Maltese Assocait ions in NSW

The Maltese Community Council of NSW

Biex tipproduçi magazine b˙al dan, li wara kollox hu frott tal-passjoni li g˙andna biex inwasslu t-tag˙riflill-Maltin barra minn art twelidhom, ma jin˙tie©x biss xog˙ol u ˙in, imma wkoll spejjeΩ.

Biex jittaffew u˙ud mill-ispejjeΩ nippruvaw insibu sponsors ˙alli jg˙inuna. G˙ad m’g˙andniex biΩΩejjedminnhom, imma bdejna, u ta’ min jag˙tihom ˙ajr.

Kull qalb trid o˙ra, g˙alhekk in˙e©©u lill-qarrejja biex i©ibu dan quddiem g˙ajnejhom u kemm jista’ jkun juΩaw is-servizziu/jew jixtru l-prodotti ta’ dawk li qed jirreklamaw/jisponsorjaw fil-magazine.

Kull qalbtrid o˙ra

Il-Óamrun Association qed torganizzabus trip g˙al GRIFFITH

Prezz: $300 kull persuna (twin share). Jinkludimorning tea, buffett breakfast is-Sibt u l-Óadd u l-akko-modazzjoni. Il-lunch tridu tixtruh intom u t˙allsu g˙alih.

Il-bus titlaq minn ˙dejn il-klabb tal-Óamrun il-Ìimg˙a fis- 6.00 am EÛATT. Ni©u lura l-Óadd g˙all-5.00 p.m.

Jekk tibbukkja u tiddeçiedi li t˙assar trid iççempelsebg˙at ijiem qabel.... jekk le jkollok

t˙allas nofs il-prezz.G˙al aktar tag˙rif cemplu lil:

George: 0407 434 651; Chris: 0431 457 868

Il-Gimg˙a, s-Sibt u l-Óadd 26, 27 u 28 ta’ Frar


Maltese Radio ProgrammesMELBOURNE, on 3ZZZ 92.3FM or onwww.3zzz.com.au. Mondays 5pm, Fri-days 5pm, Saturdays 10am.; LastWednesday each month at 1pm.

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

MELBOURNE: STEREO 974(93180930): 97.4FM Wed (Maltese Mag-azine) & Thursday (Mer˙ba): 6.00pm to8.00 pm Co-ordinator – Ray Anastasi

In SYDNEY, listen to the MCC radioprogrammes on 2GLF FM 89.3. Satur-days 6 to 8 a.m. Martese Caruana presentsNostalgia Music; Sundays from 10.00 -11.00 am: Il na Maltin. Both available ondemand. Follow same procedure as forMCC programmes, except select programein reference.

In BRISBANE listen to the Maltese Pro-gram on 4EB on Tuesdays 6.00 -8.15am;Sundays 4.15pm to 5.15pm

UNCLE SAM DJ (Maltese Radio) tunein to link: www.unclesamdj.com

Listen to John Borg & Glenn Cassar every Sat-urday at 1.00 p.m. on RADIO 2RRR 88.5FM oron the Internet - www2rrr.org.au ON DeMAND

The SBS MALTESE NEWS L-A˙barijiet on SBS TV twice a week nationwide Sunday at8.00 am on SBS2 (Chan. 32); Thursdays at 8.00 am on SBS2

Isma’ l-programm tar-radjubil-Malti mill-Kunsill Maltita’ NSW minn fuq l-istaz-

zjon 2GLF 89.3FM.Jista’ wkoll jinstema’ On De-

mand minn fuq l-Internetwww.893fm.com.au

(On Demand >Ethnic >Maltese Council 11am)

Il-programm ta’ sieg˙a nhar ta’ Óadd fil-11.00 a.m. ikun fih l-a˙˙ar a˙barijietminn Malta, muΩika, tag˙rif, kultura,avviΩi u su©©etti ta’ interess g˙all-Maltin

On SBS Radio

Day Time Analogue and Digital

Friday: 12:00-13:00 97.7fm SBS Radio 2Saturday: 14:00-15:00: 97.7fm SBS Radio 2

To tune into digital radio you need a re-ceiver or device with a DAB+ chip. Tuningin is by station name not frequency. Digitalradio can also be heard via digital TV.

SBS Radio 2 is on Channel 38.The radio programmes can be accessed on-line (live or catch up) at sbs.com.au/mal-tese and via mobile phone, using the SBSRadio app. For television news fromMalta - SBS 2 TV on Thursdays andSundays at 8am.

VIVA MALTA

VIVA MALTA on COAST FM 96.3Community Radio in Gosford Central

NSW. Aired every fortnight from 6 pm -7 pm (Next is February 1).

Presenter: Nathalie Gatt. Web streaming on: www.coastfm.org.au.

Tune In to Radio and Television

Saint Nicholas Festa Committee

Events in 2016Sunday March 13

FeteSunday July 3Lejla Fil-Buskett

Sunday October 16 Fete

Sunday December 4 Festa


Meetings of DayCare Maltese

Groups in NSWFairfield Active Maltese SeniorsMeets 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, Fair-field Heights.

Maltese Seniors Central CoastYou need to contact our Welfare

Officer for an appointment.For all information and referral

matters one should call Censina Cefai:Tel: 02 439 000 12 or 0414 267 652

*(All Groups are Sponsored by The Maltese Community Council of NSW).Please contact the MCC Welfare Officer: Marisa Previtera JP on 0414 863123. The MCC offices are at 59b Franklin Street (corner with Young St)Parramatta West NSW(next to West Parramatta Primary School)

Daceyville Maltese SeniorsMeets on the last Wednesday of the

month in the Meeting Room One, No. 3General Bridges Crescent, Daceyville.Note: The Groups also arrange regular Bus TripsCome and join us and make new friends.

Merrylands Social Maltese SeniorsMeets every second Friday of the

month; Miller Room, Memorial AvenueMerrylands from 10.30am to 12.30 am

Llandilo Maltese SeniorsMeets on the first Wednesday of each

month at the Llandilo Community Hall,Seventh Avenue, from 11am to 1 pm.

Greystanes Maltese SeniorsMeets on the second Monday of each

month at the George Preca Centre ofOLQP Church, 198 Old Prospect Road,Greystanes from 10 am to 12 noon

The Sutherland & St GeorgeMaltese GroupOngoing: We meet every First Wednesdayof the Month from 10:00am-1:00pm

Our Meetings/Get Togethers are inter-esting, informative & entertaining. Come Join us and make new FriendsFor more information contact our Coor-dinator: Charles Mifsud J.P.Phone (02)9501 5525 – mobile 0421 662 298.

Join us on The Voice of theMaltese facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/thevoiceofthe-

maltese

The Voice of the Maltese on-line magazine is by far the

most widely read publicationamong the Maltese Diaspora,with subscribers from Aus-tralia, Canada, the UK Eng-land, Scotland, Wales andNorthern Ieland), IrelandRep., Belgium, France, Italy,India, the Caribbean island ofSt Kitts & Nevis. But not only.It is also gaining popularityin Malta and it keeps grow-ing with every issue.

The Voice: The Voice: the mostthe mostpopularpopular by farby far


Id-direzzjoni ta’ The Voicet˙e©©e© lill-qarrejja lij˙ossu li, jew g˙andhomtalent g˙all-kitba, l-aktar bl-IlsienMalti, imma mhux biss, inkella lija˙sbu li bi ftit g˙ajnuna jistg˙ujrabbu l-kunfidenza g˙all-kitba, biexjekk u meta iridu, jew jitolbu l-g˙aj-nuna tag˙na, inkella sempliçementjibag˙tu x-xog˙ol tag˙hom lil: TheVoice of the Maltese biex narawh. Email address:[email protected] Jekk tkunu tridu wara nippublikaw

il-kitbiet tag˙kom.

Tinteressak il -kitba?


Id-Dar Tal-Providenza Malta, looks afterover 100 residents with disability and

requires over $4 million annually whichis raised through sponsors, activities and public donations.

The Friends Of Providence House NSW was founded inOctober 2011 and has so far raised over $46,000. We are

the official Ambassadors in Australia.

Donations can be made at any Commonwealth Bank ofAustralia. Donations are acknowledged

A/C Name : Friends Of Providence House NSWBSB: 062-416 A/C No. 10199448 or contact the Co-Ordi-

nator: Jim Borg (02) 9636 7767

Proudly supported by:

FRIENDS OF PROVIDENCE HOUSE NSW

Cnr Main & Campbell Sts, Blacktown. Contact George Vella Tel (02) 9622 7799

The Maltese Language Schoolof NSW invites applications

for Maltese language classesat the Alfred Fenech MalteseResource Centre located at59b Franklin Street (corner

with Young Street) Mays Hill(next to Parramatta West

Public School). Both young and adult stu-

dents may apply.

For more information contact MaryPace-Feraud on 9601 2189 or email:

[email protected]

The Maltese Language School of NSW

The Maltese Community Coun-cil of NSW is conducting a com-puter class at Maltese Resource

Centre 59b Franklin Street,Mays Hill 2145 NSW every Fri-day between 10.00 am-12.00For more information contactEm. Camilleri: 0409 744 376

La Valette Social CentreCelebrating feast of St Paul

Sunday February 7: 5.00 p.m.: Mass in the main Hall ofthe Centre at 175 Walters Rd Blacktown accompanied bythe La Valette Choir under the direction of Victor Floridia.Afterwards procession with the statue to the chapel ac-

companied by Our Lady Queen of Peace Maltese BandDJ for entertainment: Bar and kitchen will be open

IL-ÓADD 14 ta’ Frar:4.00p.m.: G˙ana bis-sehem tal-g˙annejja minn Malta, France Mifsud (Ta’ Vestru) u ibnuIonut kittarrist prim. Jie˙du sehem ukoll l-aqwa g˙annejjau kittaristi min Sydney D˙ul $10 kull persuna. Biljetti mill-bieb. Il-bar u l-kçina jkunu miftu˙in. Ejjew u gibu l-˙bieb.

G˙al aktar tag˙rif: La Valette: 9622 5847

Lejla M©arrija

Għall-iMġarrin u l-Ħbieb

Nhar is-Sibt 27 ta’ Frar, 2016 f’Mandavilla Events Centre

Horsley Drive, Horsley Park

Divertiment ipprovdut minn: Tony Fenech, Charlie Muscat u Joe Xuereb

$65.00 kull persuna. Tinkludi antipasto Malti, ikla ta’ tliet korsi,birra, inbid, soft drinks te` u kafe`. Ikun hemm: “Lucky Door

Prize”, “Raffle”, wirja ta’ ritratti u ħafna iktar.

Biex tibbukkja ċempel lil: Theresa Quattromani 0402-178-781jew lil Josephine Borg 0402-040-954

Ejjew niltaqgħu u niddervertu flimkien.

Il-qlieg˙ imur g˙all-Cancer Council

organizzata minn Horsley Park CommunitySocial Group, Horsley Park

G˙alkemm il-PBS ta’ Malta tforni lill-SBS fl-Aw-stralja bis-servizz tag˙ha, il-qarrejja huma

m˙e©©a biex x’˙in iridu jid˙lu fil-website: www.tvm.com.mt u jsegwu l-a˙barijiet ta’ Maltaminn hemmhekk. Il-website tkun a©©ornata l-˙in kollu bi stejjer li jkunu qed ise˙˙u.

L-a˙barijiet tal-PBS (Malta)

Playing with only 10 men for the duration ofan hour against Mosta did not keep Hiberni-ans from beating Mosta 4-0 and collectingthree valuable points in their battle for su-premacy in the Premier League. With Vallettadropping points in a 1-1 draw with Tarxien itenabled the Paolites to reduce the gap withthe leaders to just one point.However, Valletta can still be positive about

their performance as they managed to extendtheir unbeaten run to seven matches.

Birkirkara are still farfrom their best and afterfinding it hard to beatQormi by a solitary goal

in Round 17, fell further behind the top twoteams when their match against bottom teamand still pointless St Andrews was postponeddue to a waterlogged pitch. The same hap-pened to Balzan and their match with Qormi.

Then on Sunday the “Old Firm” clash be-tween Floriana and Sliema went the Greens’way. They came from 1-0 down to win 2-1and draw level with Birkirkara in third place.Next come Tarxien and Balzan, in fifth andsixth respectiely.

Having lost all its five matchesin its first-ever participation in

the final stage of a European Water-polo Championships now playing atthe Kombank Arena in Belgrade,Serbia, Malta, will wrap up its com-mitments on Wednesday by playingits final match to determine the 15thand 16th positions in the event.

Malta qualified to the final stagefrom the qualifiers last September.Nobody was expecting much as itwas drawn in the toughest group(B), against World Champions andhosts, Serbia, Olympic Champions Croatia,and 10th ranked France, however, its partici-pation confirms Malta’s ranking as one of thetop 16 waterpolo teams in Europe.

Malta lost all three group matches: 7-17 vFrance on its debut, 2-20 v Serbia, and 2-22against Croatia to finish in bottom place and

had to play to determine its placing. In its first Ranking Round match Malta ten

lost 3-14 to Group A winners Spain, and onMonday went down 7-12 to Romania.

The Malta national team will play its finalmatch on Wednesday against the losers of thematch between Slovakia or Germany.

Defending A-League Champions Mel-bourne Victory seemed to be lacking all

the ingredients that made them champions lastseason and had even been raising doubts as tothe overall strength of their squad when theyhad only notched one win from their previousseven games, but in their last match on Day 15they came good and their enthusiasm, pressingand incisive attacking play paid off as theythrashed table-toppers Brisbane Roar 4-0. With Victory looking more like the team that

won the double last season, Roar simply couldnot handle the home side and three goals in theopening half an hour blew away Roar who hadtheir chances but failed to capitalise.

However, despite the loss, Brisbane held onto their top spot in the league ladder as nearestchallengers Western Sydney Wanderers losttheir second game in a row for the first timethis season against derby rivals Sydney FCwho beat them 2-1 to continue with their derbydominance.

The Wanderers went down to a last minuterocket by substitute Shane Smeltz in a drama-charged Harbour City derby that gave Sydneyvictory and helped them to draw level on 27points with the Wanderers in second place.Forth-placed Melbourne City could not go be-

yond a 2-2 drawat Perth Gloryso remain fou-rth with 25 poi-nts, only a pointahead of Vic-tory. Adelaidecontinue theirrevival and arenext, four pointsbehind.

Barcelona’s Argentine footballer LionelMessi won the FIFA Ballon d’Or for the

fifth time in his career in the annual FIFAawards held last week. He beat off the chal-lenge of the other finalist, Cristiano Ronaldoand Neymar by obtaining 41% of the votes.Other awards were:

FIFA Women's World Player of the Year:Carli Lloyd (USA)

FIFA World Coach of the Year (Men's):Luis Enrique (Barcelona)FIFA World Coach of the Year (Women's):Jill Ellis (USA) FIFA Puskás Award:Wendell Lira (Atletico-Go, Brazil)FIFA FIFPro World XI: Neuer; Thiago Silva,Marcelo, Sergio Ramos, Dani Alves; Iniesta,Modric, Pogba; Messi, Neymar, Ronaldo


Spor ts Spor ts

Australia A-League

Roar are thrashed butcling on to top placing

3-33-22-03-31-3

4-01-22-23-13-1

Melbourne V. v Brisbane R.West. Sydney W v Sydney FC Perth Glory v Melbourne C. v Newcastle J. v Wellington P.Adelaide v Central Coast

Day 14Wellington Ph v Brisbane R.Melbourne C. v West. Sydney Sydney FC v NewcastleCentral Coast v Melbourne V.Perth Glory v Adelaide

Latest results Day 15

10-man Hibs humiliate MostaMalta’s Premier League Football

Valletta v Naxxar L.Hibernians v PembrokeBirkirkara v QormiBalzan v MostaTarxien R. v Floriana Sliema W v St Andrews

RESULTS: Round 18

VallettaHiberniansBirkirkaraFlorianaTarxien R.BalzanMostaSliema WPembrokeQormiNaxxarSt Andrews

18 13 2 3 39 18 4118 12 4 2 43 20 4017 10 5 2 36 16 3518 11 2 5 31 20 3518 9 5 4 32 15 3217 9 3 5 28 20 3018 7 4 7 25 27 2518 7 3 8 29 28 2418 6 3 9 25 29 2117 2 3 12 17 29 918 2 2 14 15 51 817 0 0 17 8 55 0

Standing P W D L F A Pts

2-12-01-04-13-06-1

Valletta v Tarxien R.Hibernians v MostaPembroke v NaxxarFloriana v Sliema W. Birkirkara v St AndrewsBalzan v Qormi

1-14-02-02-1pospos

Round 17

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat (sixth from left) and Energy Minister KonradMizzi (4th from left) pictured in Belgrade with Malta’s national waterpoloteam players wished the national team good luck ahead of the championships

Messi wins Ballon d’Or for fifth time

The MFA has confirmedItalian coach Pietro Ghe-din as Malta’s nationalfootball team for a fur-ther two years

MFA confirms Ghedinas national coach

Malta to playfor 15th/16th

position

European WaterpoloChampionships

the voice of the maltese no. 119

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