The Voice of the Maltese (driven by the voice of its readers ) Issue 89 o on nlliin ne e m ma ag ga az ziin ne e November 25, 2014 Popeye Village A general view of POPEYE VILLAGE (above) and a street (left), that were part of the massive film set of the 1980 Walt Disney musical production “Popeye”. It was constructed in Anchor Bay in the last seven months of 1979. To construct this authentic wooden village, tree trunks were brought to Malta overland from Holland, and wood shingles, used in the building of the rooftops were imported all the way from Canada. A 165 international construction crew consumed eight tons of nails and 2,000 gallons of paint to finish off the set. Today Popeye Village is open to the public as a museum. 2 The Voice of the Maltese Tuesday November 25, 2014 Maltese MEP objects to EU proposals giving blanket voting rights to people living abroad M alta Labour Party European Parliamentarian Marlene Mizzi told a European Parliament's Petition committee meeting in Brussels, that while she supports the principle of free movement in EU countries, she believes that blanket electoral legislation might not suit all countries. She intervened while petitioners from Spain, UK and Germany were soliciting the Commission to initiate talks to allow citizens living permanently in other countries to be able to vote in the general elections in their country of origin and /or in their country of residence. They had been arguing that if they do not, the principle of free movement is being breeched. Mrs. Mizzi said that “A one size fits all, or a cut and paste legislation is not acceptable in this case. Electoral legislation determining who has the right to vote, where and how should remain within the remit of national competence and not imposed by blanket EU legislation. The impact of this legislation will be different on small countries than it is large countries with millions of citizens." Maltese European Parliamentarian Marlene Mizi She went on to highlight the situation where, because of the size of Malta there are more Maltese living permanently abroad, than those residing permanently in Malta. This means that people living permanently away from Malta could decide how people living in Malta are governed. She further agreed that the rights for those citizens living abroad should be safeguarded, but so too should the right of the citizens living in the country where the general elections are taking place. “Having said so, those citizens who have a right to vote, must be given all the possible practical methods to exercise their right - including electronic voting, and voting in their country of residence - and the rights of the citizen and the principle of democracy should not be compromised in any way,” she added. The Maltese MEP said that this is a case where small countries must stand up and be counted and not allow the exigencies of larger member states affect them negatively. “Nor can we allow that certain competences and sovereign rights be taken away from member states and piled in one bunch of EU laws and regulations. Who votes, how and where is one of these untouchable, sovereign rights", Marlene Mizzi said. People express their respect for Whitlam, a most loved Politician he photo (right) was taken by Dr Barry notes on the famous T York OAM a well know historian on the steps where Gough steps of the Old Parliament House in Canappeared after his berra where he works (at the Museum of Australian Democracy). Dr Barry, who is known for having written about the history of Maltese migration, told The Voice of the Maltese that as the news of Gough Whitlam's death hit the airwaves, a few weeks ago, members of the public started placing bunches of flowers with dismissal on November 11, 1975. He said that the flowers continued to arrive days after his death. At the same time, the people also kept flocking to the Museum to sign the book of condolences (picture left). It was prove, if any was needed, that despie the fact that he only spent less than three years as the 21st Prime Minister of Australia - seving from 1972 to 1975 - he was very well loved by the people from all spheres of life. He was also Leader of the Labor Party for 10 years, from 1967 to 197 Dr Barry told us that it is a common misconception that Whitlam withdrew Australian troops from Vietnam. Aus- tralia’s combat forces were actually withdrawn by Christmas 1971, a year before his election, by the McMahon government. The Whitlam Labor Government withdrew a very small non-combat force of around 100 that was left to advise and train the defeated side. He goes on to say that Whitlam did some very good things, and some bad ones - such as his government’s selling out of East Timor to the Indonesians and the de jure recognition of Soviet occupation of the Baltic states. “A balanced approach shall come with time,” he said. “In the meantime, may he rest in peace.” Gough Whitlam died on October 21 this year. The Voice of the Maltese 3 Tuesday November 25, 2014 Fr Fabio Attard (front: third from right) at St Mary’s Salesian Fr Fabio Attard receives warm reception on visit to Sydney T he weekend of the 15-16th November 2014 was a highlight for the Maltese Past Pupils & Friends of Don Bosco NSW when Fr Fabio Attard SDB, who holds an important and responsible position on the General Council of the Salesians was our guest. As Councillor for Youth Ministry, based in Rome, Fr Fabio visits various countries to animate Salesian communities around the world. Born in 1959, and a past pupil of the Gozo Salesian Oratory, he gladly made a special trip to Sydney to meet with members of the Association and the Salesian community at St Mary’s where he was also their resident weekend guest. The Gozitan priest who was visiting Melbourne to attend a Conference linked to the Bicentenary of Don Bosco’s birth (1815-2015), accepted the Association’s invitation to visit Sydney before departing for Rome. His first engagement was a Mass at La Valette Social Centre Blacktown, followed by a visit to St Dominic’s Home for the Aged. Afterwards he was taken to the Centre where he met a number of Maltese who gather there on Saturdays. by M ar k Ca r uana At the 4.45pm Mass he was assisted by Fr Noel Bianco MSSP and after Mass met a number of friends who knew him in Gozo. The following day, Sunday, Fr Fabio concelebrated Mass at St Mary’s, Our Lady of the Rosary Parish, together with Fr Carmelo Sciberras, Fr John Briffa SDB, Fr Shane Reade SDB and Fr John Walenceij SDB. Fr Fabio delivered a moving homily on the parable of the talents, where he touched on the aspects of trust in God, responsibility for the good use of our talents and a commitment in our faith journey to God. Before Mass, Fr Fabio met the committee at the community hall and was informed of our activities. He also had the opportunity to meet members and parishioners at a relaxed Salesian gathering after Mass, where members provided refreshments and listened to his talk on the bigger picture, the priorities for the Salesian communities around the word. Fr Fabio later visited the Salesian community at Engadine, and prior to departure he had some free time to enjoy the sights of Sydney Harbour. What stands out in my mind as a result of this visit is the warm reception he received by members and friends who had known him in Gozo and in Sliema. They renewed their contact with Fr Fabio with his youthful exuberance to the Salesian cause, his profound spiritual foundation and the importance attached to being AUTHENTIC when dealing with today’s youth. Fr Fabio stressed the importance to listen, to understand and to discern the changing times affecting young people in their search for true spiritual meaning. I thank the committee for the preparations for a successful weekend event, Leli Zammit who was Fr Fabio’s guide, driver and photographer, Fr Shane Reade SDB rector of St Mary’s, Fr Brendan Murphy SDB parish priest, Fr Carmelo Sciberras the Association’s spiritual director, Fr John Briffa SDB past spiritual director, Sam Gatt who represented the Association and welcomed him at the airport, all the committee, and all those who provided refreshments and support. A proud sponsor of The Voice of the Maltese website: www.breakawaytravel.com.au Breakaway Travel 94 corner of Main & Campbell Streets, Blacktown NSW for all your travel needs. Tel (02) 9622 7799 blacktown@breakawaytravel.com.au 4 The Voice of the Maltese Tuesday November 25, 2014 La Valette Social Centre: for 50 years a hub of activity for Maltese community T he La Valette Social Centre at Walters Rd Blacktown NSW is this year celebrating its 50th anniversary. Founded in October 1964, the Centre started life as the Maltese Community Western Suburbs Association but changed to its present name in 1970. It was originally housed in an old timber cottage and chicken shed, but the association soon became the nerve centre for various activities. The resumption of this community-own property in Kildare Road Doonside by the Housing Commission of NSW in 1974 brought an end to virtually all the activities and, for a while shattered the committee’s hopes and plans. It was 1975 that the then committee decided to buy the present property at 175 Walters Road, Blacktown and embarked on a building programme. Then on November 26, 1978, the first part of the complex consisting of a chapel, a meeting room, a library, offices and residence for the long-serving Migrant Chaplain and founder, Fr Paul Baron OFM Cap, was officially open. The foundation stone for the present clubhouse was laid on February 16, 1986 and was completed in September 1986. The La Valette Social Centre is unique amongst Maltese associations in that the land and premises are community-owned. In June 1990, the religious pastoral care of the Centre was transferred to the Maltafounded Missionary Society of St Paul. There is still in resident a Maltese chaplain serving the spiritual and pastoral needs of the Maltese community. The Chapel now enjoys the status of an ethnic parish. The Centre expanded its facilities by build- ing a new hall and also the bocci pitch, which is sheltered, and made various other improvements to the office and front of the clubhouse. In 2004, a monument was also erected in memory of the club founder Fr Paul Baron when he revisited Blacktown from his native Senglea Malta. La Valette Social Centre has become the hub of activities for the Maltese community. It provides premises and activities for the youths, the aged and others. It initiates and supports welfare and educational programmes, and provides recreational activities such as tombla (bingo), Maltese Ghana and bocci. Wholesome Maltese cuisine is served every Saturday night. The success of the Centre may be gauged by the several general activities it has embarked upon, such as the annual Debutantes Ball, the centennial Gala Concert at the Sydney Opera House on October 1983, the annual traditional open-air Christmas Mass, the Maltese Festa ta’ San Pawl, lIrxoxt, the annual All Souls Mass at Pinegrove Cemetery and many others. In 1978 and for many years after that, the Department of Immigration & Ethnic Affairs provided the Centre with a full-time welfare officer to address the needs of the rapidly growing Maltese ageing community. In October 1992, the Centre published a comprehensive 140 -age research study aptly named the Ageing Maltese – a minefield of need and neglect that had an enormous beneficial impact on the community and other service providers. The Maltese Community Visitation Scheme (Friends of Older People) is another initiative. It was aimed to alleviate the social loneliness, isolation and boredom of Maltese aged and infirm at nursing homes, hostels or in their own home by dedicated volunteers. The La Valette Centre is entrusted by the Commonwealth Government with Respite Care Service for the Maltese in the LGAs of Blacktown and Holroyd. Respite care provides for the Maltese short-term substitute for carers to obtain relief from the normal caring. The first outing organised by the Maltese Respite Care Service of La Valette was on August 8, 1995. The Thursdays’ gathering for the Maltese aged at the Centre is still well attended. The Centre recently commemorated its 50th anniversary with a Concert featuring local singers, ghana and a programme by the Maltese OLQP Brass Band. A powerpoint presentation featuring memories from the past was also presented. In his speech Gejtu Pace, the Centre’s president for the last 16 years thanked all for their contribution and said that the Centre is not just the building but also the service it provides to the Maltese community. The Monument dedicated to the Centre’s founder Fr Paul Baron, situated in front of the main hall The Voice of the Maltese 5 Tuesday November 25, 2014 The Voice is not just a news portal; We comment, we fight for your rights. We believe in freedom of expression; We are read in the right places. Change of executive at MCC Victoria A Gejtu Deguara... thanked for 16 years of service to the MCC of Victoria t the Annual General Meeting of the Maltese Community Council of Victoria Inc, the following office bearers were elected to the executive: president: Victor Borg; vice president & PRO: Dr Edwin BorgManche; vice-president: Joseph Stafrace; treasurer: Paul Borg; secretary: Edwina Mallia; welfare director: Rosemary Attard; social secretary: Marilyn Pace; ass. secretary: Antonia Camilleri; ass. treas- urer: Rita Pullicino; chaplain: Fr. Edwin Agius mssp. Professor Maurice Cauchi who had just completed four years as Council President, having over the years previously served 12 years in that position, and Guy Deguara a v/president of the Council for many years decided not to nominate for the Executive. Victor Borg who has, since his retirement in 2013, been a full time vol- unteer at the MCCV moved a vote of thanks to Profs Maurice Cauchi and Gejtu Deguara for their work and contribution to the council and the community generally. He said he was certain that they would continue to be supportive of the council and contribute to the best of their ability. As the immediate past president Profs. Cauchi is still an executive member of the council. Fil-qosor l-Óamrun Association li g˙andhom iç-çentru tag˙hom f’100 Jackson Rd Marsden Park NSW g˙andhom president ©did wara li George Zahra ©ie elett f’din il-kariga fl-a˙˙ar laqg˙a ©enerali annwali li kellhom. Fl-istess laqg˙a li fiha saret l-elezzjoni li kienet immexxija minn Emanuel Camilleri, il-v/president talKunsill Malti ta’ NSW, Robin McGarigle ©iet ma˙tura segretarja. B˙ala Il-kumitat u voluntieri tal-Óamrun Association ma’ George Zahra (ir-raba’ mil-lemin) kaxxiera n˙atret Mary Said, u George mit-twaqqif tag˙hom. Hawnhekk, l-eΩekut- li l-president tal-kumitat ta’ St Helena Tabone ng˙aΩel v/president. tiv hu mag˙mul minn: president: Louis Maltese-Australian SC ta ˙ajr lill-Maltese *Il-Maltese Past Pupil & Friends of Don Debono, v/president: Tony Abela, segre- United Promotions, u lil Reno u Lena Bosco (NSW) wkoll kellhom il-laqg˙a tarja: Rita Pullicino, u kaxxier Joe Borg. Grima talli j©ibu lejn l-Awstralja, l-aktar ©enerali annwali fil-Wentworthville IΩda l-iktar li laqatna kien il-fatt li dawn u l-aktar lejn Melbourne, l-a˙jar talent li Leagues Club li tulha, Mark Caruana ©ie jorganizzaw il-laqg˙a generali annwali u hemm f’Malta. elett b˙ala president. Il-karigi l-o˙ra wara anke joffru lill-membri dinner *Nifir˙u lill-˙abib tag˙na Lewis u martu mtlew minn: Josephine Galea (segre- kumplimentari. Minbarra l-ikel u x-xorb Maria Stafrace minn Melbourne fl-okkatarja), Christine Sapienza (kaxxiera), Joe ikun hemm iΩ-Ωfin. Ûgur li qatt ma sma- Ωjoni tas-sittin sena miΩ-Ωwie© tag˙hom. Galea (v/president), Doris Spiteri (ass. jna b’inizjattiva b˙al din, jew lil xi *Fl-istess waqt ng˙idu grazzi lil Gejtu Segretarja), Marlene Dimech (ass. g˙aqda fi NSW u n˙awi o˙ra toffri lill- Deguara li g˙al dawn l-a˙˙ar 16-il sena Kaxxiera), u Lawrence Dimech (PRO). membri tag˙ha xi ˙a©a simili. kien v/president tal-Maltese Community *Dan l-a˙˙ar ©ie f’idejna fuljett tal-Maltese *Fir-rapport estensiv li kellna dwar il- Council ta’ Victoria. Dis-sena ma re©ax Association Northern Suburbs ta’ Mel- mawra tal-kantanta Eleanor Cassar ikkontesta l-kariga. Gejtu jg˙in hafna lil bourne fejn ˙abbru li qed ifakkru d-39 sena wie˙ed mill-qarrejja bag˙at jitlobna nΩidu The Voice minn Melbourne I 6 The Voice of the Maltese Tuesday November 25, 2014 The President (left) and a section of the thousands of participants in the President’s Solidary FunRun last Sunday Malta - Unique in the whole world L ast Sunday Malta again united behind H.E. President Marie Louise Coleiro Preca for the annual President's Charity Fun Run in aid of the Community Chest Fund. At the end of this year’s activity, the sixth edition of the annual charity event that attracted close to an estimated 17,000 participants, an emotional President said Malta was a unique country, not in the Mediterranean nor just Europe but in the whole wide world. She said that on such a day she was so proud to be Maltese and thanking the Maltese people she said that on such a day the Maltese forget all the things that are normally divisive and unite behind her in love and solidarity The run proper left from San Anton Palace, while walkers chose three routes - from Paola square, Sta Venera and from the University. They all converged and finished the run/walk in Valletta. The event organised by the Malta Community Chest Fund with the help of Kunsill Malti g˙all-iSport is one of the biggest fundraisers for L-Istrina. It was a great success. Among the participants was President Marie Louise Coleiro Preca herself, and President Emeritus George Abela, who had launched the FunRun during his Presidency. Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and Opposition Leader Simon Busuttil, along with other Parliamentary members from both sides of the House of Representatives all ran or walked the distances, so too the US Ambassador to Malta Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley. In addition to the usual festive atmosphere, sports organisations and NGOs as well as teams from different companies joined the fray, to make the event a truly memorable one. Among the runners was also the former Juventus and Italy World Cup star footballer, Toto Schillaci, Students and deans left from the University Campus while members of Parliament and other dignitaries showed their support at different points along the way. Participants were given a commemorative t-shirt and a bib by the main sponsors, Banif Bank, which said it would double the money collected from the FunRun. The participants took part against a donation of €10. Prime Minister Joseph Muscat presented also a €10,000 donation on behalf of the government to the Malta Community Chest Fund. He said that every year, the Maltese people outdo themselves. Maltese finalist in Human Rights Awards 2014 alta-born Dr John Falzon (right) is fiM nalist of the Human Rights Medal that is awarded to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the advancement of human rights in Australia. There are four finalists for the 2014 medal that has a rich history of prestigious winners. The award will be made on December 10 at the Museum of Contemporary Art. Dr John Falzon is chief executive of the St Vincent de Paul Society National Council of Australia. Trained in sociology, theology, politics and poetics, he has worked in academia, in community development in large public housing estates and in research and advocacy for non-government organisations. Dr Falzon is also a poet. He has written and spoken widely on the structural causes of inequality in Australia and has long been an advocate for a fairer society. He is currently a member of the ACOSS Board, was a participant in the 2020 Sum- mit and has served on government advisory committees such as the Australian Social Inclusion Board, the Community Response Task Force during the Global Financial Crisis and the Energy White Paper High Level Consultative Committee, and is also the author of The language of the unheard (2012). The other finalists are, Dorothy Hoddinott AO, the principal of Holroyd High School in Greystanes; Noel Tovey is an actor, author, choreographer and dancer. He is also a lifelong advocate for Indigenous Australians and the rights of LGBTI Australians, and Michael Traill AM is the executive director and former chief executive of the non-profit organisation, Social Ventures Australia. The Voice of the Maltese Tuesday November 25, 2014 7 Pope John Paul remembered F ollowing performances in Sydney and Melbourne, Artes Christi finished its whirlwind tour of St John Paul II’s The Jeweller’s Shop with a sold- out performance at the Riverside Theatre in Parramatta NSW. It was sponsored by the Catholic Diocese of Parramatta’s Family & Life Office in partnership with Artes Christi. Before he was a Pope, before he was even a priest, John Paul II (Karol Wojytla) was a playwright & actor in Poland’s Rhapsodic Theatre, a secret unGiovanni derground theatre Portelli group strictly prohibited by the Nazis. With original performances under candlelight with no sets, props or even an audience, the Rhapsodic plays instead relied entirely on the truth and drama of "the word." The Jeweller’s Shop is the most famous of these plays and is a deeply moving insight into St John Paul's extraordinary understanding of love, relationships and marriage. To capture the essence of the Rhapsodic style, The Jeweller’s Shop be performed in a recitative form (reading only). This method, though unusual, provides the perfect atmosphere for this profoundly The Artes Christi performers. The young lady in the yellow top is Stephanie Cassar and beside her (right) is Monica Lewis Reynolds, both of Maltese descent. beautiful meditation on human love. Director Emma O’Shea said the brief but popular run had exceeded her expectations. The tour was conceived to honour St John Paul II, whose first feast day was celebrated on October 22, and the themes of love and marriage that Ms O’Shea said were “constantly being challenged in today’s society”. “We choose plays for both their formational value and for their art value,” she said. “This was evident through The Jeweller’s Shop which had a powerful message and was a lovely minimalistic way to present theatre.” 50 Sena ta’ Xandir g˙al Josephine Zammit Cordina I x-xandara u attriçi veterana mag˙rufa, Josephine Zammit Cordina, ta’ 79 sena, li isimha huwa marbut ˙afna mal-Maltin tal-Awstralja g˙all-programmi li kienet tipproduçi immirati lejn l-emigranti Maltin flAwstralja, g˙alqet 50 sena fix-Xandir Nazzjonali Malti. Minn dawn, Josephine qattg˙et l-a˙˙ar 30 sena tipproduçi u wkoll tippreΩenta, kif g˙adha tag˙mel s’issa, il-programm minn fuq Radju Malta, Boomerang. Barra minhekk, g˙al 18-il sena kienet ukoll tipproduçi l-programm televiΩiv, Waltzing Matilda. Filfatt, bejn radju u TV ipproduçiet aktar minn 400 programm minn dan il-©eneru li kienu popolari ˙afna mal-Maltin tal-Awstralja Josephine bdiet il-karriera tag˙ha fix-xandir ftit wara li g˙alqet 29 sena. Dakinhar kienet tie˙u sehem fix-xandiriet g˙all-iskejjel. Minn hemm issokat tie˙u sehem fir-radjudrammi u bdiet ukoll tirreçta, l-ewwel fuq ilpalk, u wara t-telviΩjoni. Tul is-snin ˙adet sehem f’u˙ud mill-aktar serje popolari li fihom uriet il-versatilita` tag˙ha, fosthom f’Ba˙ar Wie˙ed, Leli ta’ ÓaΩ-Ûg˙ir, Meta jonfo˙ ix-Xlokk, Dejjem tieg˙ek Becky u o˙rajn. Minkejja li qatt ma bassret li se jkollha karriera hekk twila fix-xandir, Josephine, imwielda l-Óamrun, sa minn çkunita minn dejjem kienet tie˙u sehem fir-reçti tal-iskola. Fl-1987 Josephine kienet il-Kanada u ˙adet sehem f’telethon ta’ g˙axar sieg˙at fuq ilcable TV f’Ontario b’riΩq Id-Dar tal-Providenza, tas-Si©©iewi, u s-sena ta’ wara ipproduçiet serje ta’ 28 programm g˙allSBS Radio fl-Awstralja dwar il-Gran Mastri fl-Ordni ta’ San Ìwann f’Malta bl-isem ta’ “Minn L-Isle Adam sa Hompesh”. Fil-karriera tag˙ha kellha g˙add ta’ mumenti li tibqa’ tg˙oΩΩ, fosthom ir-rikonoxximent li ng˙atat permezz ta’ awards, b˙all-Australia Medal of Honorary Member (AM) in the General Division of the Order of Australia fl-2004, il-Manoel de Vilbena Award mill- Harmonic 65 Culture Centre ta’ Josephine meta ng˙atat Ìie˙ il-Óamrun fl-2011 Melbourne fl-1993, Ìie˙ il-Óamrun fl-2011, u meta fl-1995 ing˙atat il-Midalja g˙allQadi tar-Repubblika. Hija tg˙id li taffaxxina ru˙ha li l-Maltin flAwstrlja qatt ma nsew l-g˙eruq tag˙hom u li huma tant kburin b’art twelidhom. Tg˙id ukoll li tibqa’ dejjem rikonoxxenti lejn dawk li dejjem appo©©jawha u/jew ˙admu mag˙ha, u t˙ossha kburija li dejjem baqg˙et lejali lejn ix-Xandir Nazzjonali 8 The Voice of the Maltese Tuesday November 25, 2014 Have your say/Xi trid tghid? Your letters/ L-ittri tag˙kom ... Ever so grateful to The Voice - Let us all be Malta’s ‘ambassadors’ The Voice of the Maltese on nlliin ne e m ma ag ga az ziin ne e o is is a bi-lingual (in English and Maltese) fortnightly online publication specifically targeting all Maltese living abroad with emphasis on the Australian scene. is online magazine is sent via email by request. Subscription is free. Editors: Malta: Joseph Cutajar Australia: Lawrence Dimech: MOM, OAM, JP email address: maltesevoice@gmail.com Letters for publication in The Voice either in Maltese or English should be e-mailed to: maltesevoice@gmail.com. Now you can also join us on facebook: https://www.facebook. com/groups/thevoiceofthemaltese Anthony Cassar from Greenwich, NSW writes: I wish to thank you editors once again for the wonderful feeling I get whenever I receive the The Voice of the Maltese. You never cease to amaze me with the high level of professionalism shown in producing this publication and I keep wondering how pleasant it could have been had we this publication on the stands and in print form years back, at least when The Maltese Herald was on the way out. History preserved Emanuel Camilleri, v/president Maltese Community Council of NSW Cecil Hill NSW writes: Read with interest your report (issue 88 11/11/14) about the Mayor of Holroyd visiting the A.F. Maltese Resource Centre. Please allow me to add that the Centre is also recording for posterity both via video and sound interviews with elderly prominent Maltese. Anyone wishing to participate can call us on 0409744376. The Centre is also painstakingly archiving the history of many of the Maltese associations in NSW. Thank you for an excellent publication . I keep telling my friends about it and soon as I receive my copy I have gotten used to forward copies of it to at least 20 of my friends, not just Maltese, who are always keen to read about the activities of the Maltese community in Australia, and particularly about Malta. You make me so proud of the country of my birth, Malta, not only by the way you present it to us out here in Australia, but also for the feeling I get when I receive the feedback from friends of mine who are not Maltese, when they receive the magazine. I was amazed when a few days ago, the father of an Australian family friend of mine conveyed to me their intention of visiting Malta, because they were impressed to read about it on The Voice. It has given me so much pride to acknowledge the fact that they made up their mind to visit the island by reading the magazine that I send them. As such I would also like to appeal to fellow Maltese-Australian readers to act as Malta’s ambassadors out here and that whenever they get the chance, do as I normally do, and sing the praises of Malta to friends of theirs with a different nationality to ours. I also hope that we, the older generation, do what we can to keep alive the spirit of unity among us Maltese and pass on our love for our island to our children, especially the third generation Maltese, and remind them where our roots lay. Raqda’ politika? Joe Attard minn Sunshine, Victoria, jikteb: ed isir ˙afna tgergir dwar kif il-Maltin fl-Awstralja jistg˙u jew ma jistg˙ux jakkwistaw passaport Malti issa li hemm is-sistema biometrika. Ma nistax nissaporti iktar il-mod kif ilGvern Malti qed ji©i kkritikaw b’tant qawwa f’dawn l-a˙˙ar 18-il xahar meta dawn il-passaporti lhom li da˙lu fis-se˙˙ sa mis-sena 2008, ji©ifieri sitt snin ilu. Mela allura dawn li llum tant qed jitmas˙nu u juru kemm huma ˙elwin kienu f’xi raqda’ politika mis-sena 2008 lil hawn? Q The Voice of the Maltese 9 Tuesday November 25, 2014 Have your say/Xi trid tghid? /2 The JESC: What a show! Congratulations Malta for providing such a spectacular, professional show Sandra Borg from St. Albans, Victoria writes: Just back from a three-month holiday to Malta, where I heard so much in the buildup to last Saturday’s Junior Eurovision Song Contest that Malta hosted I honestly declare that I was quite sceptical if in fact it could deliver. But wonder of wonders, when I watched the show on Sunday morning on TV at our house along with some friends, we were overjoyed. Thank you Malta! Thomas Vella from Faukner, Victoria writes: C ongratulations Malta, what a great show, you really put it on magnificently. The Junior Eurovision Contest from Marsa, Malta made us all so proud of our island. We may not have won the contest again but Frederica had the best voice. We did not only participate but we organised the whole spectacular. It was huge publicity for Malta and to see it all in Australia was the icing on the cake. Thanks to SBSTV (SBS2 Ch 32) once again. No wonder you are the TV channel of my choice. *Editor’s note: we have received over 20 such emails from our readers praising Malta. Most of us sitting comfortably in my sitting room shed tears knowing that our little island could produce such a spectacular show. I for one did not care much about the songs. For me the efforts of the young singers from so many European countries were commendable and even though we hoped that Malta could win the coveted price, we were not disappointed. Our Federica was great. We all wanted her to win, but she was certainly no loser as she finished fourth. I am sure she will make a great opera singer. What we were most proud of was the organisation and the moments of nostalgia we got from watching, not only the show in itself but also the beautiful scenes from Malta the producers provided for the viewers. Me being a woman, what I did not like much were the outfits of the very good presenter. I don’t think that in such colourful surroundings it was right for her to don those dark colours I like watching the entertainment the Australian TV stations provide us with throughout the years, but the show Malta managed on the night easily compares with the best I have followed over the years out here. All who took part in the organisation of the event deserve a pat on the back. It really came right on the night! Ûied il-Babaw ma’ Sarangu Daniel Zammit minn Belmont, Perth jikteb: Kemm ˙adt gost naqra l-artiklu tas-sinjura Lina Brockdorf fil-˙ar©a Nru 88 (11 Nov.), u kemm ©abitli memorji ta’ tfuliti meta semmiet biex kienu jbeΩΩg˙uha l©enituri! Fil-verita’ jien qatt ma smajt b’Sarangu jew Gadawxu, imma lili kienu jsemmuli lBabaw u fi Ωmien il-Milied il-Gaw Gaw. Artikli b˙al iΩidu jsebb˙u din ir-rivista. No new taxes! Anthony Micallef, Surrey Hills NSW, writes: T he Abbott Government has introduced a fuel tariff, on top of the existing fuel excise. This tax is another tax on fuel. Even the NRMA is up in arms against it. This will cost you more each time you go and fill up. The amount will increase by the CPI every six months, forever. You will pay GST on top of the new fuel tax, so another tax on a tax. Protest about this tax by visiting mynrma.com.au or contact your Federal member of Parliament. Mr Abbott promised no new taxes. Tell him what you think. 10 The Voice of the Maltese Tuesday November 25, 2014 Perspettiva Tfal Bla Dar f'Sydney A version of this series in English may be found in the author's blog at: http://www.ivancauchi. blogspot.com.au D aqqu s-sebg˙a ta’ filg˙axija meta ˙ri©t mis-Central Station ta' Sydney. Wara ftit minuti, ©iet karrozza bil-lowgo ta' Youth Off The Streets (Ûg˙aΩag˙ Barra mitTriq) u paqpqet il-˙orn. D˙alt u laqag˙ni Gary, mani©er tal-programm Street Walk (Mixja mat-Triq). Filwaqt li beda jsuq, b˙ala l-voluntier ta' dak il-lejl, spjegali s-sitwazzjoni u x'kien hemm ippjanat g˙al dak il-lejl. Matul l-a˙˙ar ftit ©img˙at kien hemm ftit xog˙ol mhux ˙aΩin. Kien hemm biss xi Ωew© affarijiet speçifiçi g˙all-lejla. Qieg˙ed jistenna talba minn koppja Ωag˙Ωug˙a biex jittie˙du d-dar, u ©ie mitlub ji©bor xi ˙wejje© minn Dar Don Bosco ˙alli jing˙ataw lil tifel. Sadattant, ng˙addu mill-proçess tas-soltu. Insuqu fid-direzzjoni tal-Kattidral ta' Santa Marija, faççata ta' Hyde Park. Dan il-post qaddis huwa pjuttost familjari mal-komunità Maltija ta' Sydney, g˙aliex xi attivitajiet reli©juΩi relevanti g˙al din il-komunità, b˙all-festa tal-Vitorja jsiru hawn. Li forsi ˙afna nies ma jafux hu li n-na˙a l-o˙ra tal-Kattidral, kemm taqsam Ìnien il-Fwie˙a, vann organizzat mill-fondazzjoni indipendenti Exodus, tasal hemm kuljum madwar dan il-˙in, mimli bl-ikel u ftit voluntiera o˙ra. Isibu hemm kju ordnat ta' nies bla dar, jistennew bil-paçenzja l-pranzu tag˙hom. Illum g˙oddejt madwar sebg˙in persuna, g˙alkemm ©ieli jkun hemm mija u anke iktar. Normalment dawn ikunu adulti, imma ssoltu nibdew minn hawn g˙ax l-organizzaturi ©entilment i˙alluna nie˙du xi kontenituri bl-ikel biex inqassmuhum lit-tfal jew Ωg˙aΩag˙ bla dar li niltaqg˙u mag˙hom matul il-lejl. Jekk jispiççawlna, il-pjan ikun li nΩuru vann ie˙or organizzat minn Youth Off The Streets, li jasal daqsxejn iktar tard f'Kings Cross. Li nies jispiççaw ming˙ajr saqaf fuq rashom hija problema tista' tg˙id kullimkien, minkejja l-g˙ana tal-post. Il-Burò Awstraljan talIstatistika g˙amel stima fl-2012 li wie˙ed minn kull mitejn persuna fl-Awstralja, jew madwar 105,000, huma bla dar, 42% minnhom ta˙t l-erbg˙a u g˙oxrin sena, inkluΩi 17% ta˙t it-tnax-il sena.1 Tal-biΩa' daqskemm hi din l-istatistika, Fr Chris Riley, il-qassis Kattoliku fundatur ta' Youth Off The Streets, ja˙seb li dawn il-figura ta' tfal u Ωg˙aΩag˙ bla dar hija baxxa ˙afna, g˙ax dawk l-eluf li jg˙ixu minn pultruna g˙all-o˙ra mhumiex inkluΩi fil-figuri uffiçjali.2 Tista' tispiçça bla dar g˙al ˙afna ra©unijiet, b˙al diffikultajiet finanzjarji, problemi fil-post ta' akkomodazzjoni, vjolenza domestika jew problemi fir-relazzjonijiet familjari, nuqqas ta' sa˙˙a jew ra©unijiet o˙ra. Nies bla dar jg˙ixu f'postijiet improvizzati li jinkludu jorqdu barra fejn isibu, postijiet ta' kriΩi b˙ad-Dar Don Bosco f'Marrickville li hi mmexxija minn Youth Off The Streets, joqog˙du temporanjament g˙and ˙addie˙or, xi pensjonijiet, djar iffullati ˙afna u postijiet o˙ra temporanji tal-akkomodazzjoni. Ng˙addu minn Woolloomooloo u Kings Cross, u nΩommu g˙ajnejna miftu˙a g˙al xi tfal li nistg˙u naraw, imma ma niltaqg˙u ma' ˙add. Inkomplu sa George St, nipparkjaw u nibdew nimxu fuq il-bankina, ninnavigaw minn fost ix-xmara ta' nies g˙addejja bil-mixi b˙alna. Ma jg˙addux iktar minn ftit sekondi li Gary ma jismax lil ismu ji©i msejja˙ minn Ωag˙Ωug˙, K, li jg˙a©©el hekk kif jaqsam it-triq. G˙andu bejn 20 u 22 sena. Óadilna t-tnejn b'idejna u staqsiena g˙al ftit ikel. Intuh kontenitur u furketta tal-plastik. Jitlobna kontenitur ie˙or g˙al sie˙bu, jirringrazzjana u j˙affef lura. Innutajt xahar wara xahar li dawn iΩ-Ωg˙aΩag˙, minkejja li g˙addejjin ˙ajja diffiçli fit-triq, xorta wa˙da ja˙sbu fi s˙abhom. Hija talmeravilja li dawn it-tfal u Ωg˙aΩag˙ jistabbilixxu rabta fil-qrib u kumplessa ma' o˙rajn f'sitwazzjoni simili, jistaqsu g˙alihom u jag˙tu l-a˙barijiet lil xulxin, jipprovdu g˙ajnuna bl-a˙jar li jistg˙u, jin©abru flimkien u jaqsmu mill-ftit li jkollhom. Apparti l-abbuΩ tal-alko˙ol jew id-drogi, xi ©lieda 'l hawn u 'l kitba ta’ IVAN CAUCHI hemm, xi attività illegali u xi ©irja mill-pulizija, it-tfal jg˙ixu u j˙ossuhom b˙ala parti minn familja fittriq, xi ˙a©a li ma sabux f'darhom, hi x'inhi r-ra©uni. X'˙asra, hux? Inkomplu mat-triq u niltaqg˙u malkoppja li riedet lift, D & E, it-tnejn ta' madwar sittax-il sena. G˙araft lil E minn drabi o˙ra. Kienu qed jieklu ma' persuna o˙ra li kien akbar minnhom sew, forsi g˙andu erbg˙in. Biex ng˙id il-veru ma tantx g˙o©obni - min jaf g˙ax kien g˙amel ˙bieb ma' din il-koppja u x'kienu l-intenzjonijiet tieg˙u? G˙ednielhom li ntuhom lift wara li nlestu r-ronda. Imxejna sa l-istazzjoni Town Hall, d˙alna ©ewwa u dornieh, u ˙ri©na minn ˙ru© ie˙or. Óadd. Imxejna lura sal-koppja. Sa dak il-˙in, kienu Ωdiedu Ωew© persuni o˙ra ikbar minnhom sew. Hadt ir-ru˙ meta qamu u mxew mag˙na sal-karrozza, u ˙allew lill-ir©iel l-o˙ra warajhom. Soqna daqsxejn fit-tul g˙al subborg qrib ta' Bankstown fejn il-koppja kienet se toqg˙od g˙al dak il-lejl f'dar ta' wie˙ed mill-genituri tag˙hom. Huma wkoll ˙adu ftit ikel u qalulna b'xi a˙barijet dwar tfal o˙ra li kienu jafu. Wara ftit waqg˙u fis-skiet u ftit minuti wara raqdu fuq wara. Dehru mbaΩwrin. F'nofs sieg˙a, wasalna fid-destinazzjoni tag˙na, qajjimnihom u ˙allejnihom jo˙or©u. A˙na u sejrin lura, Gary qalli dwar xi tfal o˙ra li kien iltaqa' mag˙hom fil-jiem ta' qabel. Tifla ©dida g˙alina, N, ittie˙det Don Bosco wara li kienet telqet mid-dar min˙abba problemi familjari u vjolenza domestika. B, li g˙andha problemi ta' sa˙˙a mentali, sejra mhux ˙aΩin, qed tistenna t-twelid tat-tarbija tag˙ha u qed ti©i m˙arsa mis-Servizzi talFamilja u Komunità (Family and Community Services - FACS), a©enzija tal-gvern ta' NSW, biex jiΩguraw li toqg˙od 'il bog˙od middrogi u mill-vjolenza, u ssegwi livelli ta' kwalità li ng˙atawlha. Tifel ie˙or beda jmur l-iskola f'Parramatta. Wasalna Don Bosco. D˙alna u staqsejna g˙all-˙wejje© tat-tifel H. Ing˙atajna borΩa kbira mimlija bl-affarijiet. Soqna lejn subborg ie˙or ˙dejn Mascot, fejn hemm l-uffiççju g˙as-servizzi korporattivi ta' Youth Off The Streets. Sibna lil H jistenniena, u deher fer˙an li re©a g˙andu ˙wej©u. Qed isir tard, u kienet sessjoni pjuttost ˙afifa illum. Dak sinjal tajjeb jew ˙aΩin? Hemm inqas tfal ji©ru fit-triq, jew marru x'imkien ie˙or? Ipparkjajna fis-Central Stationi, post ie˙or komuni g˙alihom. D˙alna fih u dornih, imma ma stajna naraw lil ˙add. Saru l-11.30 p.m., u ddeçidejna li nieqfu hemm. Óadna b'idejn xulxin, qbilna fuq meta se ner©a' ni©i, u tlaqt. Tlajt fuq il-pjattaforma u stennejt it-tren li kien se je˙odni d-dar. Jien u sejjer, ma stajtx ma na˙sibx f'dawk it-tfal u Ωg˙aΩag˙ li ltqajna mag˙hom dak il-lejl, u l-o˙rajn li ltqajt mag˙hom drabi o˙ra li ilni ma nara. Tg˙id tajbin? Tg˙id sabu ftit stabbiltà f'˙ajjithom, li tippermettielhom jibdew jo˙or©u mill-˙ofra li qeg˙din fiha, jew g˙andhom ambjent f'darhom li tant hija tossika li a˙jar ja˙arbu minnha? Milli rajt sallum, il-kawΩa ewlenija g˙ala jispiççaw fit-triq hija kemm il-©enituri jie˙du ˙sieb ˙aΩin, jew xejn affattu, ta’ uliedhom. Jekk il-©enituri ma jimpurtahomx, qatt mhuma d-dar, jimponu biss u ma juru flessibiltà ta' xejn, jew jabbuΩaw lil uliedhom b'xi mod jew ie˙or, tag˙ti tort lit-tfal li ja˙arbu? Dak li tiΩra ta˙sad. L-ulied ikunu qed ifittxu l-im˙abba, ˙sieb u attenzjoni. Jekk ma jsibuhomx id-dar, ÛGUR ifittxu band'o˙ra. Referenzi [1]http://www.homelessnessaustralia.or [2]http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/homele ssstatsdonttellthefullstory20140308g.au/index.php/about34dyd.html, retrieved 13/11/2014 homelessness/homelessstatistics, retrieved 13/11/2014. Tuesday November 25, 2014 The Voice of the Maltese 11 F’Malta jmut l-eks Ministru Lino Spiteri Tlifna politiku, ©urnalista u ekonomista ta’ stoffa F il-bidu tal-gimg˙a l-o˙ra sar f’Malta l-funeral ta’ wie˙ed mill-aktar personalitajiet irrispettati f’g˙add ta’ oqsma, l-intellettwali, Lino Spiteri, bniedem intelli©enti, politiku, ©urnalista, ekonomista, kittieb ta’ novelli u poeΩiji, u li kien meqjus u mfittex g˙all-fehmiet onesti tieg˙u, l-aktar fejn g˙andha x’taqsam il-politika u lekonomija. Huwa miet il-Ìimg˙a 14 ta’ Novembru fl-eta’ ta’ 76 sena. Ironikament, il-funeral tieg˙u wara quddiesa fil-Katidral taliMdina li kien ma˙nuq bin-nies, ˙bieb, u personalitajiet, kemm politiçi u o˙rajn, sar fil-jum li fih kull sena kien tant ji©I msejja˙ jag˙ti l-fehmiet tieghu, fil-jum tal-ba©it. Lino, li kien we˙ed mill-persuni li bl-eΩempju u s-serjeta’ tieg˙u g˙in anke lili u ˙afna o˙rajn, biex sawwar fina l-importanza ta’ ©urnliΩmu ©ust (fair), kien bniedem li f’˙afna mumenti, b’˙ila kbira rnexxielu jeg˙leb l-in©ustizzji li toffri l-˙ajja f’kull qasam u jo˙ro© b’dinjita’ minn kull saram. Imwieled Óal-Qormi, orfni minn missieru sa minn çkunitu, tifel uniku u iben omm li kien jadura u tadurah, Lino Spiteri, rnexxielu li minkejja d-diΩabbilta’ li kellu tant jeg˙libha li f’˙afna kaΩi sar il-bniedem li lejh setg˙u j˙arsu g˙all-eΩempju biex jimxu fuq il-passi tieg˙u . Kien bniedem li ˙afna qisuh imwieled g˙all-politiku u l©urnaliΩmu, kapaçi janilizza kull sitwazzjoni u b’kura©© u determinazzjoni jie˙u d-deçiΩjonijiet bla ma j˙ares lejn lebda wiçç, kemm jekk fil-politka u wkoll f’kull qasam ie˙or fil-˙ajja ta’ kuljum. Huwa kien kitteb prolifiku u f’çerti novelli tieg˙u deher biç-çar li kienu ibbaΩati fuq xi in©ustizzji soçjali li jew esperjenzi personali, imma dejjem kien kapaçi jo˙ro© b’kitbiet, kemm jekk bil-Malti jew bl-IngliΩ li seta’ jsegwihom kull min jaqrah. Lino kellu l-˙ila jikteb u jitkellem dwar kollox, mhux biss dwar materji li ˙afna jafuh imda˙˙al fihom. Kellu l-˙ila wkoll jitkellem u jikteb, kif ©ieli g˙amel, dwar l-isports, u safejn seta’ anke kien attiv. Niftakru jg˙a©©ibna fl-Union Press meta kien ji©i mag˙na jilg˙ab it-table tennis. Kien fost l-aqwa plejers li kellna. Óafna nistg˙a©bu narawh jag˙ti sservice, b’id wa˙da imma tant potenti. Ódimt ta˙tu b˙ala ©urnalist kemm meta kien editur talMalta News, deputat editur ta’ It-Torça u wkoll meta kien il-Kap tal-pubblikazzjonijiet fl-Union Press. G˙al xi Ωmien kien anke x-shop steward tal-˙addiema u kien hemm g˙add ta’ okkaΩjonijiet fejn stajt anke nammirah f’dan il-qasam. Naf ukoll li kien anke jg˙in lill-ko-editur ta’ The Voice ukoll meta Lino kien imexxi t-Torça u Lawence Dimech kien jikteb fiha. Lino kien wie˙ed mill-iΩg˙ar politiçi li kiseb post fil-Parlament Malti meta fl-1971 fl-eta’ ta’ 23 sena, frisk minn tlett snin studju f’Oxford fejn ukoll spikka, ©ie elett ikun parti mill-Gvern Laburista immexxi mill-Perit Dom Mintoff wara li reba˙ bye-election g˙all-post ta’ Albert Hyzler, u serva g˙al 21 sena s˙a˙. Jing˙ad li fis-snin tieg˙u fl-Universita’ presti©©juΩa ta’ Oxford, dak li kien imexxih, Sir Alec Cairncross kien jg˙id dwaru li kien wie˙ed mill-aktar studenti intelli©enti li qatt kellu. Bejn l-1981 u l-1983 huwa serva b˙ala Ministru tal-Finanzi fil-gvern immexxi minn Mintoff. Serva wkoll b˙ala ministru fil-gvern immexxi minn Dr Alfred Sant fl-1996. L-a˙˙ar li serva fil-politika kien fl-1998 meta rriΩenja minn ministru tal-finanzi, imma baqa’ wie˙ed mill-aktar kittieba fil-politika li kapaçi janalizza. Baqa’ kittieb regolari kemm fil-gazzetti tal-Union Press u wkoll l-Allied Newspapers Kien ukoll wie˙ed minn dawk li fl-2008 ing˙ata l-midalja ta’ Ìie˙ ir-Repubblika. Huwa kien Mag˙ruf b˙ala bniedem lejali li jg˙oΩΩ il-˙biberija, u dawk l-aktar qrib tieg˙u jg˙idu li kien anke jinteressa ru˙u f’dawk li ma kienux daqshekk qribu. Minkejja li kienu jafu li ma kienx politiku li jipprova ja©evolhom biex jikseb il-vot tag˙hom, kien ma˙bub ˙afna mill-kostitwenti tieg˙u, g˙ax fi ftit kliem kienu jafu fejn qeg˙din mieg˙u u jtuh il-vot g˙ax jemmnu fih. Anke l-politiçi avversarji tieg˙u kellhom rispett kbir lejh g˙ax kienu jaraw il-©enwinita’ tieg˙u, u f’waqtiet anke fittxewh g˙all-pariri, l-aktar fil-qasam li kien jeççella fih, lekonomija. Fis-sibg˙inijiet kien anke n˙atar bhala d-deputat gvernatur tal-Bank Çentrali ta’ Malta. Fl-a˙˙ar sentejn sa˙tu bdiet tmajna ka©un tal-marda qerrieda tal-kançer imma baqa’ dinjituΩ. Issielet kif seta’ u forsi din kienet wa˙da mill-ftit okkaΩjonijiet li fiha ˙are© tellief. Lino Spiteri bata anke g˙al twemminu u hu u martu kienu fost tlett koppji li fi Ωmien l-interdett lill-kabinett Laburista, ma t˙allix jiΩΩewwe© bil-mod tradizzjonali fil-knisja, imma fis-sagristija. Imma b˙aΩ-Ωew© koppji l-o˙ra baqg˙u fidili lejn xulxin. The Voice ukoll nag˙tu l-kondoljanzi tag˙na lill-membri tal-familja li ˙alla warajh, martu Vivienne u lill-erba’ uliedhom, Noelle, Bertrand, Lara u Lincoln. Jo s ep h Cut a jar 12 The Voice of the Maltese Tuesday November 11, 2014 Roundup of News About Malta Maltese Government announces 2015 budget Mixed reaction to Minister Edward Scicluna (left) presenting budget speech to H.E President Marie Louis Coleri Preca, Incident involving and Speaker Dr Anglu Farrugia (first right) before reading it to the House Minister’s car hat started as a curios hit-and-run inW cident on Wednesday night in Gzira when a Scotsman, named as Stephen Smith, Govt describes it as “optimistic”; Social partners as “positive”; PN as “lacking economic vision” M alta being what it is, nobody expected the Budget 2015 presented in Parliament by Finance Minister Profs. Edward Scicluna to please everybody. However, from initial reactions, the government must have relieved to learn that it was highly welcomed by the social partners, particularly the Unions, and the Employers association. The negatives came from the Opposition National Partners’ ranks. The government described it as “optimistic”, and the social partners as “positive”. But the PN said it lacked clear economic vision. The budget speech took almost four hours to read, therefore it is impossible to include all the points raised, but one of the most important targets the government said aid it would be aimed to deter benefit abuse by the unemployed and single mothers, and to work even harder to eradicate unemployment. As such, the Minister announced that measures would be taken against unemployed people aged under 23 who refused to fol- low courses/training under the Youth Guarantee Scheme to be introduced next year. If they failed to attend they would lose their unemployment benefit. Similar measures, he said, would also be taken against single parents, aged up to 23, when their child was more than one year old. In both cases a four-month grace period would be allowed. Explaining how the scheme would work, the minister said that 350 young people who are neither at school nor at work would be given individual attention for training to enable them to find a job. This is being regarded as an important investment and would cost the government €2 million; young people would each be receiving €1,440. The government will also introduce an employability index, whereby those following courses would be guided on the job prospects they were likely to have. Prof Scicluna said that employers will enjoy a tax dedication of €600 for every work placement and €1,200 for every apprenticeship. In order to boost the employment figures, employers would be getting a tax cut of €2,030 per year for two years for every unemployed person aged between 45 and 65 who they engage and train. They would also benefit from a 50 per cent income tax cut on training costs. People registering for work for more than two years would, upon finding a job, retain 65 of their unemployment benefit for the first year, 45 per cent in the second year and 25 per cent in the third. The employer would receive 25 per cent of the unemployment benefit for three years, while single parents receiving social assistance would be given a credit of between €200 and €1,000 when they start vocational training in order to improve their skills. Minimum wage earners are set to receive a top-up on their monthly pay from the government as part of a strategy to 'make-work pay' and stimulate the jobless to find employment. The topup amount is yet to be determined. Read more on page 14 later found to be under the influence of alcohol, reportedly rammed Home Affairs Ministry Dr Emmanuel Mallia’s car that was parked in Gzira, outside the house of the mother of his driver and security (a policeman), Paul Sheehan, while the minister was, at the time attending an official police function. Initially in a release about the incident the ministry said that upon hearing the sound of the impact the minister’s driver, rushed out of the house to check what had happened, and that when he realised that the car had been hit he gave chase to the foreigner who sped away. In the chase the Scotsman was alleged to have tried to force the minister’s car into a wall, the he came out of his car and threatened Sheehan with a beer bottle. In turn, the policeman was said to have fired “two warning shots in the air”. Thursday morning in a press conference Minister Mallia told the media that the first information was based on first reports on the scene, but later it transpired that the first version was not correct, and that when the foreigner sped away, the warning shots did in fact hit his car. He however kept driving only to be later arrested by the Rapid Intervention Unit in Msida. An angry Prime Minister, Joseph Muscat expressed disgust over the incident. He said it was unacceptable for a person detailed as security driver with a minister to fire shots following a traffic incident. In a statement the PM’s Office said, Joseph Muscat spoke with Minister Manuel Mallia, and they both agreed that “drastic action” should be taken against Mallia’s escort, who breeched the minister’s trust. Sheehan has been fired from his position with the minister and was immediately suspended from the Police Force. Opposition leader Simon Busuttil accused Minister Mallia of a cover-up for his driver and that the Prime Minister was showing “weakness in front of the abuse of power”. He said that if he wants to be credible the PM should sack Mallia. On Saturday the PM said any decision as to any alleged involvement by the minister would only be taken at the end of a magisterial inquiry. He even asked the Opposition leader to suggest the name of an ex-judge of his own choice to lead a board on inquiry into the accident. Simon Busuttil declined th offer. He said it was the PM’s mess and he should be the one to deal with it. Even before the result of the inquiry to be conducted by three former members of the judiciary, Busuttil keeps calling for Mallia’s head. He wants the PM to sack him. The Voice of the Maltese 13 Tuesday November 11, 2014 Roundup of News About Malta Malta well ahead of preparations for CHOGM 2015 M altese Premier Joseph Muscat and Commonwealth Secretary General Kamalesh Sharma on Friday launched the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) to be held in Malta a year from now with the theme chosen by Malta and highly praised by the Mr Sharma, The Commonwealth - adding global value. Addressing high commissioners from a host of Commonwealth countries at the Gardjola Garden in Senglea, Dr. Muscat spoke about the need for the organisation to start pushing for reform or risk becoming irrelevant. He said this would be an opportunity for leaders to discuss issues and best practices, as well as common concerns, ideas and ambitions that affect the lives of millions. “Any organisation as big as this runs the risk of becoming irrelevant to its citizens. We are pushing reforms to make the Commonwealth more about the future, to discus financial opportunities that lie ahead and the relevance of small states,” he said. The heads of state and government are also expected to discuss blue growth, trade, finance, youths and environment. An added value to the CHOGM would be the Paris summit on climate change, to be held just a few weeks after Malta's meeting. Mr Sharma praised Malta's leadership on “exceptional” ideas and practical action for small states. He said Malta is well ahead of the preparations. “A small country could still add global value,” he added. The main events will take place against a backdrop of Malta's historical locations including Fort St Angelo. He added: “I can say with confidence that Malta right now is ahead of the curve for what the preparatory requirements should be at this point in time. There is no doubt that CHOGM will standout as a global conference. It will set out our course for the coming two years under Malta's leadership and we look forward to work closely with Malta. The CHOGM leaders are looking for a greater global impact in what we do.” Sharma added that “Malta's beauty and rich history" would be showcased during the CHOGM”. A series of parallel events will also be Prime Minister Dr Joseph Muscat (right), and the Secretary Genheld in the week eral of the Commonwealth Kamalesh Sharma addressing a press leading up to the Launch for the CHOGM Malta 2015 at Gardjola Garden CHOGM including women's issues and rights are in a poor sitfora on business, youths, civil society and uation. We are not trying to preach to these for the first time a women’s forum with the countries but we are giving women's organPrime Minister saying that it would serve isations an occasion to voice their concerns as a platform for women's organisations and hopes,” Muscat said. from various countries to place their conCHOGM, which is convened every two cerns and observations high on the sum- years, brings together leaders from 53 mit's agenda. states, home to 2.2 billion citizens, of “Countries are so diverse that you can't put whom 60 per cent are below the age of 30, them in one box. There are a number of to discuss common themes and initiatives countries with best practices that need to be Malta was unanimously chosen to host the shared with others. Within such a huge or- 2015 event during last year's CHOGM in Sri ganisation, there are countries where Lanka. It last hosted the summit in 2005. F ‘Members need to embrace global aspect’ oreign Affairs Minister George Vella also addressed the launch. He encouraged Commonwealth members to embrace the CHOGM's global aspect and work towards an enhanced association. “We have to remember that the Commonwealth community is made up of 53 member states from all over the globe. The Commonwealth of today has to embrace this global aspect and that is why we have to work towards an enhanced association.” “We need a renewed drive based on an intelligent reform so the CHOGM remains of value and is effective for citizens," the minister said, adding that one of its greatest strengths was to speak with one voice without losing its diversity. “An enhanced Commonwealth would speak with greater unity on international and global affairs. Consensus may not always be possible but we can collectively strive for better economic stability." Amber to represent Malta in Euro Contest M alta failed to repeat last year’s success in the 12th Junior Eurovision Song Contest (JESC) as participant Federica Falzon could only place fourth, but in the end, it wasn’t just young 11-year-old Italian Vincenzo Cantiello, the only boy among the 16 contestants, who won with his song Tu primo grande amore. Malta won too for its splendid and professional organisation of the event. At the same venue, known as the Marsa Ship Building, on Saturday Malta chose Amber with the song “Warrior” to represent it in next year’s Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna, Austria. She was named the best by each of the five judges and the SMS votes for a total of 72 points. Second place went to Christabelle with 47 points. It was indeed a hectic seven days as the previous Saturday Malta staged the JESC for Eurovision and managed it with flying colours. When years back Malta came close to winning the Eurovision Song Contest with Mary Spiteri and Chiara (on two occasions), a large number of Maltese were very sceptic as to whether, if ever Malta won the Contest it could host and organise such an event. But after the JESC’s spectacular show, a success from every angle for the PBS personnel, optimism has grown sky high. Malta has given proof that when the possibility arose, it has the skills, the will and the organisational Amber prowess to do it. YES we certainly CAN. Cantiello won the Juniors' event for Italy, the first time it has participated in the contest, by totalling 159 points. In fourth place, Federica obtained 116. 14 The Voice of the Maltese Tuesday November 25, 2014 Ba©it tajjeb? L -g˙ada tat-t˙abbir tal-Ba©it ˙afna jag˙mlu l-istess misto- tag˙hom dawn isemmu kemm qsija: Kellna Ba©it tajjeb? U jkun hawn dawk li jippruvaw it-tajjeb kif ukoll il-˙aΩin... iwie©bu din il-mistqosija billi jiflu dak li ntqal mill-midja. g˙alkemm anke hawn xi ftit Jien ukoll flejt sewwa x’qalet il-midja, g˙alkemm ma kellix il- jew wisq, f’çerti kaΩi lag˙bet paçenzja u Ω-Ωmien biex noqg˙od nisma’ d-diskussjonijiet ma ukoll il-parti tag˙ha l-politika. jispiççaw qatt li kellna fuq ir-radji u t-TV. Biss min ja˙seb li se jwie©eb l-mistqosija li bdejna biha fil-bidu billi jara x’qed jing˙ad u jinkiteb fil-media, Ωgur li ma jasalx. G˙ax kif jista’ wie˙ed jasal meta donnu xi ©urSintendi min fettillu jisma’ ir-radji/TVs jg˙id: "Ma nistax ng˙id li ˙aΩin imma nali, u ma na˙sibx li dan jag˙mluh il-©urnali tal-Partiti Ωgur li beda jistaqsi jekk lanqas nista' ng˙id li sodisfatti", filwaqt Maltin biss, i˙arsu lejn il-ba©it kif i˙arsu lejh dawn kienux qed jirrapportaw l-istess li l-Malta Independent ippreferit il-parti b˙al Partiti – ji©ifieri b’lenti politika. stqarrijiet. li tg˙id: “Not enough invested in eduJekk wie˙ed i˙ares lejn it-titli ewlenin L-istess ©ara f’çerti gazzetti, cation” - MUT, u The Times tmur g˙al, (headlines) forsi dan ma tantx jidher billi g˙alkemm forsi mhux daqshekk fil- “MUT was not consulted on certain bejn wie˙ed u ie˙or il-gazzetti jg˙idu l-istmiftu˙, g˙ax din id-darba l-akbar dif- budget proposals; Does not agree with ess ˙a©a, ˙lief g˙all-©urnal tal-Partit Nazferenza kienet l-g˙aΩla tat-titlu billi changing school hours” zjonalist, in-Nazzjon Tag˙na li b’ittra kbar dawk il-©urnali li ssoltu jxaqilbu xi ftit B˙al dawn kien hemm kaΩijiet o˙ra. jg˙id: ‘Ba©it bla direzzjoni li ma jqassamx lejn il-Gvern g˙aΩlu b˙ala titlu dik il- Mhux se noqg˙od insemmi d-divil-©id b’mod ©ust.’, titlu li huwa g˙al kollox parti tal-istqarrija li tpo©©i l-Gvern f’- er©enzi tal-kummenti. Insemmi biss different minn dak tal-©urnali l-o˙ra li dawl sabih, filwaqt li sar l-oppost minn dak li qalu l-akbar Ωew© unjins Maltin: jg˙idu: min ma tantx i˙ares b’g˙ajnejn fa- il-UÓM u l-GWU The Times: Scicluna: Budget to make work vorevoli lejn il-Gvern. Skont il-Maltarightnow. Com, ilpay. Imbag˙ad kellna lil The Malta IndependHekk, per eΩempju, jekk in˙arsu lejn UÓM ˙ar©et kontra l-ba©it g˙ax: ent: “The Budget: On Track (iΩda mbag˙ad x’qalu diversi gazzetti dwar kif il-Ba©it “Taxxi indiretti jolqtu lil min g˙andu Ωiedet nota ftit negattiva) but new power stalaqg˙at lil G˙awdex insibu l-Mal- d˙ul baxx”. IΩda mbag˙ad skont tion is the elephant in the room. tarightnow (tal-PN) tag˙Ωel dawn it-titli TheTimes: “GWU satisfied with measMin-na˙a ta’ l-Orizzont din kienet poΩittiva minn dawk li qalu l-g˙aqdiet: “IΩ-Ωieda ures against precarious work” u g˙al kollox: Ba©it b’ideat li jbiddlu”, filwaqt fil-liçenzji tas-swimming pools hi negat- “GWU welcomes the Budget” billi l-Maltatoday, f’edizzjoni speçjali qaltilna: tiva g˙al G˙awdex; Malta Indipendent tg˙id, “GWU highly Carrot And Stick On Social Benefits, Tax “Ba©it li jibni fuq inizjattivi li saru fis- satisfied government stuck to its major Credits For Middle Class And Business, Pubsnin ta’ qabel” – Michael Grech, Ku- electoral pledge to reduce energy tariffs lic – Private Is New Mantra (And The Lonmitat Regjonali ghal G˙awdex, filwaqt for industry”. gest Budget Speech Ever) - u dan il-©urnal li l-orizzont u l-iNews (tal-GWU) ˙ar©u Jekk nibqa’ sejjer hekk ma nispiçça filwaqt li jitkellem dwar l-itwal diskors b’titli: “Il-Ba©it huwa “realistiku u qatt allura mhux ta’ b’xejn li jkun (attwalment ©ie li kien hemm diskorsi talo©©ettiv” - GozoTourist Association hemm dawk li jkejjlu l-Ba©it fuq dak li, Ba©it itwal minn hekk), spiçça biex hu stess Il-GYC sodisfatt bl-investiment fil-fehma tag˙hom, ikunu se jak©ab titlu ma jispiçça qatt. f'G˙awdex - Gozo Youth Council. L-is- kwistaw huma u ta’ madwarhom millSa hawn kollox sew. tudenti G˙awdxin jilqg˙u miΩuri li jΩidu Ba©it u ji©u jaqg˙u u jqumu x’se jkun Imma mbag˙ad l-istorja tibda tinbidel meta l-impjiegi u l-aççessibbiltà f'G˙awdex. ir-riΩultat finali tal-Ba©it meta wie˙ed l-midja tirrapporta l-kummenti tal-G˙aqdiet L-istorja tirrepeti ru˙ha meta l-gazzetti i˙ares ‘il barra minnu u miç-çirku ta’ u Unjins dwar il-ba©it. rrapurtaw il-kumment tal-MUT dwar il- madwaru u jara kif se tmur l-ekonomija Jekk wie˙ed attwalment jirnexxielu jaqra Ba©it, bl-iNews tislet il-parti tal-istqar- tal-pajjiΩ, x’se ji©ri fi-qasam tal-imjew jisma dak kollu li qalet kull g˙aqda, kull rija fejn is-segretarju ta’ din l-Unjin pjiegi, tas-sa˙˙a, tal-edukazzjoni eçç. unjin, aktarx li jsib li fil-ma©©oranza Imma mhux hekk il-midja The Voice of the Maltese 15 Tuesday November 25, 2014 Mix-xena tal-˙ajja Maltija 2 L-Isqof u l-gays M Fuq quddiem fil-prosperita’ alta tinsab fuq quddiem fejn tid˙ol il-prosperita. Skont l-indiçi ta' prosperità annwali kif ikkalkulat mill-Legatum Institute, Malta ikklasg˙iduli, imma x’g˙andu sifikat fit-23 post fost l-aktar pajjiΩi prosperi fid-dinja. x’jaqsam l-isqof malL-indiçi huwa mqassma skont tmien fatturi li huma, l-ekonomija, lGays? intrapriΩa u opportunità, governanza, edukazzjoni, sa˙˙a, sigurezza, DaΩ-Ωgur li g˙andu x’libertà personali u kapital soçjali. jaqsam. G˙ax b˙al kull mexL-aktar li Malta marret tajjeb hu fejn jid˙ol kapital soçjali fejn ikklasixej ie˙or fil-gΩejjer tag˙na fikat fit-18-il post. Morna tajjeb ˙afna wkoll fil-libertà personali u lkellu sehem s˙i˙ fid-disintrapriΩi u opportunità. Fit-tnejn li huma kklasifikajna fid-19-il post. kussjonijiet dwar id-drittijiet L-inqas wie˙ed minn dawn il-fatturi li morna tajjeb fihom kienet ltal-Gays, Lesbjani, eçç. edukazzjoni fejn ©ejna fil-41 post. Fl-ekonomija kklassifikajna fit-32 Jidher li l-mexxejja talpost, fil-governanza fil-21t, filwaqt li fis-sa˙˙a u sigurtà fit-28 post, Malta Gay Rights Movement biex b'hekk b˙ala total ikklasifikajna fit-23 post. ˙assew li l-Isqof AwΩiljarju, G˙as-sitt sena konsekuttiva Malta ikklasifikat fl-ewwel post ta' din Mons Charles Scicluna, li b˙alissa qed imexxi d-djoçesi Maltija, ta kontribut poΩittiv il-klassifika presti©juΩa, segwita mill-Isvizerra u New Zealand. Fost it-30 l-aktar pajjiΩ prosperu fid-dinja Ωew© terzi minnhom huma biex dawn il-persuni jiksbu d-drittijiet tag˙hom. Dan jo˙ro© mill-fatt li dan il-Moviment innomina lil Mons pajjiΩi Ewropej, b'fost o˙rajn ir-Renju Unit jikklasifika t-13 u l-ÌerScicluna ˙alli jing˙ata wie˙ed mill-premjijiet tal-LGBTI manja l-14. L-Istati Uniti tal-Amerka ikklasifikat fl-10 post. Community Awards g˙all-2014 fil-kategorija ta' persuni spiritwali u reli©juΩi li ˙admu favur id-drittijiet ta' persuni LGBTI. U sintendi din in-nomina, kif jg˙idu l-IngliΩi “raised many eyebrows”, u ma naqx-xalata dwar l-istorja ta’ Patri Charles sux il-kummenti, b’kul˙add jistenna Fenech kompliet f’dawn l-a˙˙ar x’kienet se tkun ir-reazzjoni tal-Isqof ©imag˙tejn, speçjalment fil-gazzetta The AwΩiljarju g˙al din in-nomina. It-twe©iba ma damixt ma waslet: “In˙oss Malta Independent li ssoktat to˙ro© rapli hija parti mill-missjoni tieg˙i li na˙dem porti dwar dan il-kaΩ, b’gazetti o˙ra biex il-gays ikunu aççettati, milqug˙in u mbag˙ad jikkwotaw xi tg˙id din ilm˙arsin minn kull tip ta' diskriminazzjoni. gazzetta. F’dawn l-istejjer ©ew implikati Ωew© paJien nibqa' nag˙mel il-missjoni tieg˙i f'dan trijiet Dumnikani o˙ra, mhux g˙ax kellhom il-qasam iΩda m'g˙andix g˙alfejn nie˙u xi relazzjoni ma xi mara, imma g˙ax b’xi premju,” stqarr Mons Scicluna Kienet stqarrija tassew meqjusa u li ©iet mod, skont il-gazzetti, kienu jafu b’dak li kien g˙addej u sa˙ansitra ippruvaw jag˙tu aççetata minn dawk li nnominawh. daqqa t’id biex l-affarijiet jitmewtu. L-ewwel implikat kien Fr Mark Monte- Patri Charles bello li skont a˙bar f’The Sunday Times Tabone, impkien dak li wassal l-offerta ta’ flus lill- likawh ukoll kla tipika Maltija hija lavukat tal-vittma tal-allegat att sesswali ta’ fenek moqli jew biz-zalza, It-tieni patri implikat kien Patri Charles zalza li tinΩillek g˙asel ma xi platt spaggetti. Patri Fenech biex din twaqqa’ l-allegaz- Tabone. Skont il-Malta Indpendent dan, Il-fenek ma ssibux fuq il-menu tar-ristoranti zjoni li kienet qed tag˙mel. Fr Mark ça˙ad l-allegazzjoni u sostna li meta sar jaf b’dak li kien qed ji©ri, ta parir kollha... u hawn minn jg˙idlek li biex tiekol lill-vittma biex tfittex g˙ajnuna profenek tajjeb - s’intendi jien nemmen li l-aqwa meta tkellem ma dan l-avukat sempliçi- fessjonali wara li kienet sfat vittma talment qallu li kien jaf li xi ˙add kien offra fenek huwa dak li tiekol id-dar – trid tmur lejn abbuΩ. U, dejjem skont dan il-©urnal, din l-iM©arr, il-Ba˙rija u f’diversi restoranti li lill-allegat vittma xi flus, iΩda fl-ebda ˙in ing˙atat g˙ajnuna psikolo©ika bla ˙las m'g˙adda messa©© lill-avukat f'isem jispeçjalizzaw f’dan it-tip ta’ tisjir. g˙ax it-terapija li ng˙atat ©iet im˙allsa Meta nitkellmu dwar il-fniek in©ibu qud- ˙addie˙or. “InΩid ng˙id li nikkonsidra mill-Provinçja Dumnikana. dawn l-offerti ta' flus b˙ala li mhumiex diem g˙ajnejna dawk il-fniek sbi˙ li jitra...u l-istorja tkompli... etiçi u li huma immorali, u li qatt ma kont bbew f’xi razzett Malti. se naççetta li nkun parti minnhom,” temm IΩda, illum meta tiekol fenek hemm çans kbir li dan qatt ma jkun da˙al f’xi razzett jg˙id Montebello. Min-na˙a tag˙ha The Times ©abet script Malti g˙ax skont is-Segretarju tal-G˙aqda Produtturi tal-Fniek, b˙alissa Malta qed tim- tat-telefonata li kellha ma’ Patri Mark biex purta 6,000 tunnellata ta’ fniek fil-©img˙a tipprova l-istorja tag˙ha. Attwalment meta minn Sqallija.... u l-fniek ta’ Sqallija wie˙ed jaqra dan l-iscript xorta jibqa’ dubju dwar din l-istorja.. storja li Patri te˙odhom ferm or˙os minn ta’ Malta. Qed jing˙ad li b’din l-importazzjoni kollha Mark baqa’ jiç˙ad anke meta l-Avukat talqed ibati l-produttur Malti. vittma kiteb dwar dan lill-Qorti. T Aktar implikazzjonijiet I Fenek Malti? I Il-Pornografija fuq quddiem G ˙al darb’o˙ra l-istatistika qed turi li l-aktar siti fuq l-Internet imfittxija mill-Maltin u l-G˙awdxin huma dawk li g˙andhom x’jaqsmu ma’ materjal tal-adulti u ˙afna drabi li jkunu relatati mal-industrija pornografika, tant li fl-ewwel Ωew© postijiet insibu t-termini free XXX, u Nude, u min jaf kemm jintuΩaw termini o˙ra (kliem) biex dak li jkun jid˙ol fl-istess siti. Il-facebook jinsab fit-tielet post, bir-raba’ post okkupat minn The Times Saturday, November 29 from 7.30 p.m. At the Good Shepherd Hall 130-136 Hyatts Road, Plumpton Hot food & drinks available from the canteen TICKETS ONLY $10. First in best seated. Childreb under 12 $ Parking is FREE For more information & bookings contact Bill Schembri: 0416261415 or Joe Fenech: 0412009957 16 The Voice of the Maltese Tuesday November 25, 2014 A quick glimpse at Australia G20 Summit commits funds to UN's Green Climate Fund T he 2014 G-20 Australia summit was the ninth meeting of the G-20 heads of government. It was held in Brisbane, the capital of Queensland, November 15-16. The hosting venue was the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre at South Brisbane. On December 1, 2013 Brisbane became the official host city for the G20. The City of Brisbane had a public holiday last November 14. Up to 4,000 delegates with around 2,500 media representatives attended. Leaders present came from: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States, and the European Union. Leaders from Mauritania, Myanmar, New Zealand, Senegal, Singapore, and Spain were also invited to this summit. The event involved a complex security operation. About 6,000 police from Queensland, wider Australia and New Zealand ensured security at the event, and more than 600 volunteers provided assistance at the summit. The Australian Government rented 16 bombproof Mercedes Benz S-Guard limousines especially for the summit at a cost of AU$1.8 million. Some world leaders however, including Barack Obama and Vladimir Putin brought their own vehicles. The final G20 communiqué includes a significant passage on climate change after “difficult discussions” among leaders, and despite an impassioned defence of coal and fossil fuel industry by PM Tony Abbott. After much wrangling, the final leaders' A group photo of the world leaders at the G20 Summit in Brisbane communiqué includes a recommendation for nations to commit funds to the UN's Green Climate Fund. Mr. Abbott gave an impassioned defence of coal and, reportedly, argued against inserting a line in the communiqué recommending the abolition of fossil fuel subsidies, an objective of the G20 for many years. Coal-fired power stations are the biggest contributor to rising global carbon emissions that are warming the planet. The leaders set themselves a target to increase the G20’s GDP by at least an additional two per cent by 2018. A Global Infrastructure Initiative, aimed at increasing public and private infrastructure investment lay at the heart of the measures agreed by leaders. However, the emphasis is more on private than public money. Leaders want to encourage institutional investors and greater private sector lending, alongside a bigger role for national and international development banks. While visiting Malta Stay at: The Diplomat Hotel, 173 Tower Road Sliema Email: sales@diplomat.com.mt Tel: (00356) 23497000 Sacrifice of war ovember 11 marked the 96th anN niversary of the Armistice that ended the First World War (1914–18). Each year, at 11 am on this day Australians observe one minute’s silence in memory of those who died or suffered in all wars and armed conflicts. Thirty-seven million died in World War 1, comprising 16 million military deaths and the remainder civilian casualties of war. The Australian statistics are nearly incredible. From a population of fewer than five million, 417,000 enlisted, 332,000 served overseas, 152, 000 were wounded and 61,000 never came home. The last Australian soldier to be killed in battle, in Afghanistan July 1, was Lance Corporal Todd Chidgey aged 29 years. Australia at War again D id you know that Australia has very special relations with the United States when it comes to joining the US in major military action? Only Australia has fought with the US in all its wars of the past 100 years. When the troops of the coalition of the willing finally withdrew from Iraq about three years ago they supposedly left behind a trained Iraqi military. The US and their allies poured hundreds of billions of dollars in creating a new Iraq Army. Where is this army now? Australia said they will not commit combat troops again in Iraq but they were the first to agree to the request by US. Australia has already some 200-ground troops in Iraq. The Voice of the Maltese 17 Tuesday November 25, 2014 A quick glimpse at Australia New Archbishop Free Trade agreements T he ninth Metropolitan Archbishop of Sydney, Anthony Fisher, 54 years, a Dominican was confirmed in a three-part ceremony at St Mary’s Cathedral Sydney. The former Parramatta bishop becomes the leader of the Australian Catholics. The first metropolitan archbishop of Sydney was John Bede Polding, who was in office from 1842 to 1877. Arcbishop Fisher (pictured with Marlene Dimech and her grandson Harley Kai) is a son of western Sydney. He takes over one of the most powerful jobs in Australian Catholicism. He practiced corporate law, albeit briefly and most likely would be elevated as a Cardinal in due time. Bishop Fisher takes over from Cardinal George Pell now at the Vatican. hina’s President Xi JinC ping (pictured below) addressed Federal Parliament before the historic signing ceremony of a new free trade agreement affecting 95 percent of Australian products. The President encouraged Australia to project greater strategic independence in the Asia-Pacific region, facilitating closer ties with Beijing and, by extension, an increased distancing from the US. Trade Minister Andrew Robb described the agreement as the most sophisticated trade deal China has struck with any country “by a long shot”. The PM said: “no Chinese leader has ever been anything like such a good friend of Australia”. Australia signed similar trade agreements with Japan and South Korea. David Cameron of UK and India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi also addressed the Federal Parliament Never ever to the boats T he Abbott government will never move away from the policy of turning back asylum seekers’ boats. Minister Scott Morrison (right) addressing the NSW Liberal Party State Council annual general meeting said “there seems to be some view that, because we’ve only had one boat this year, that somehow we can relax, we can walk away from these policies and that we can give it away. “ The minister went on to say that “those who oppose these policies would like nothing more than for us to let down our guard again. It won’t happen. The govern- Funding cuts to ABC and SBS T he Abbott government announced $254million funding reduction to the Australian Broadcasting Commission (ABC) representing 4.6 per cent. The ABC will receive $5.2 billion over five years rather than $5.5 billion while the SBS will have its budget reduced by $25.2 million or 1.7 per cent over the same period but will be able to recover some revenue by taking a more “flexible” approach to advertising. Before the last election the Prime Minister promised there would be no reduction in funding for ABC and SBS. Minister Malcolm Turnbull said “if there were to be savings made across the board, the ABC and SBS could not expect to be exempt”. ment will never, ever move away from the policies that we know work.” Mr. Morrison has made it plain that virtually all of Australian’s humanitarian pro- MICHELLE ROWLAND MP FEDERAL MEMBER FOR GREENWAY Proudly serving the areas of: Acacia Gardens, Blacktown*, Girraween, Glenwood, Kellyville Ridge, Kings Langley, Kings Park, Lalor Park, Parklea, Pendle Hill, Prospect*, Quakers Hill*, Riverstone, Rouse Hill*, Schofields, Seven Hills, Stanhope Gardens, The Ponds, Toongabbie*, Vineyard *Parts of 230 Prospect Hwy, Seven Hills 2147 Ph: 9671 4780 Email: Michelle.Rowland.MP@aph.gov.au www.facebook.com/mrowlandmp Twitter: @mrowlandmp gramme for people overseas this financial year will be selected by Australia from countries of first asylum. In 2014-15 the Australian Humanitarian Programme will provide 13.750 places that is, it will not be increased. Mr. Morrison said the decision was designed to stop the flow of asylum seekers seeking travelling by boat to Australia, despite only one boat successfully arrived this year. This will discourage people smugglers ventures and people to travel illegally to Indonesia for the purpose of seeking resettlement in Australia 18 The Voice of the Maltese Tuesday November 25, 2014 Tag˙rif lingwistiku, otografiku, grammatikali u kulturali dwar il-lingwa Maltija ma˙ru© mid-Dipartiment tal-Malti fi ˙dan il-Kulle©© San Injazju, Malta biex l-ilsien Malti jing˙ata l-valur li jist˙oqqlu. Grammatika: In-Nom Astratt Taf xi jfissru dawn? Ìilandra Tabernaklu (xellug) li fih jitqieg˙ed l-ostensorju blostja kkonsagrata b’kollox. Normalment dan ikollu lbieba ta’ quddiem mag˙mula g˙attond u li ddur biex tinfeta˙. Kaghwara/qawwara Biçça drapp irrumblata u mag˙mula g˙at-tond b’çerta ˙xuna li kienet titqieg˙ed fuq il-qurrieg˙a tarras. Fuqha kien jin©arr xi o©©ett b˙al Lampara Lampa mdaqqsa li titqieg˙ed fuq dg˙ajsa tas-sajd u li biddawl tag˙ha ti©bed ˙afna ˙ut b˙all-kavalli u ssardin. Óafna drabi dan is-sajd isir bil-lejl. Xarretta kavetta tal-˙ut jew kannestru mill-bejjieg˙a fit-toroq speçjalment innisa. Tfisser ukoll dawl madwar xi pjaneti jew inkella dijadema ma’ ras l-istatwi jew pitturi talqadqawwara disin. Karettun mi©bud b’Ωiemel wie˙ed iΩda li fuqu jistg˙u jirkbu sa tnejn min-nies. Kien jintuΩa g˙al xi ˙ar©a fil-˙in liberu jew fil˙dud.Ilkelma ©ejja minn dik FranċiΩa charrette. In-Nom Astratt jirreferi g˙al dawk ilkwalitajiet u’jew virtujiet jew vizzji li ma tistax taqbadhom b’idejk iΩda tarahom f’persuni u f’o©©etti. Dawn jitnisslu jew min a©©ettivi jew inkella minn nomi o˙ra. EZ: A©©: sabi˙ = sbu˙ija; abjad = bjuda; tajjeb = tjubija; Nom: tifel = tfulija; Ωag˙Ωug˙ Ωg˙oΩija; xi˙ = xju˙ija; O˙rajn: indafa, intelli©enza, fer˙, qdusija, niket X’nikeb fiex jew fhiex? ˙andna niktbu l-kelma fiex. Dan g˙alG iex din il-kelma hija mag˙mula mill-prepoΩizzjoni fi marbuta mas-suffiss –iex, li jfisser “xi ˙a©a”, sewwasew b˙alma biex hija mag˙mula minn bi + -iex. Kliem ie˙or mibni bl-istess mod hu: g˙aliex (g˙al + -iex) u mniex (minn + -iex). M’g˙andna qatt niktbu fhiex. Aktarx wie˙ed ikun i˙awwad il-kelma ma’ kelmiet o˙ra b˙al ˙sibthiex, rahiex, tniΩΩilhiex, li fihom is-suffiss –hiex huwa mag˙mul millpronom mehmuΩ –ha (ji©ifieri “lilha”) u ssuffiss tan-negattiv –x (eΩ. iniΩΩilha [= iniΩΩel lilha] + -x > iniΩΩilhiex). Tinteressak il-kitba? Id-direzzjoni ta’ The Voice t˙e©©e© lill-qarrejja li j˙ossu li jew g˙andhom talent g˙all-kitba inkella li ja˙sbu li bi ftit g˙ajnuna jistg˙u jrabbu l-kunfidenza g˙all-kitba, biex jekk iridu jistg˙u jibag˙tu x-xog˙ol tag˙hom lil: The Voice of the Maltese. Email address: maltesevoice@gmail.com MAYC Appeal to those interested to learn the Maltese language f all Maltese-Australian youths with adult beginners. where Mary blood in their veins are as keen They continue to say that if enough in- isn't contactIasMaltese Charmaine Cassar and the Maltese- terest is shown, classes at Parramatta able, one shoAustralians' Youth Committee NSW (MAYC) about all that is Maltese, and particularly the Maltese language, then the future of the Maltese community in Australia is assured. In a message posted on the MAYC page directed at those living in Sydney’s West who are interested in learning the Maltese language, the youth committee reminded those who aren't aware, that the Maltese Language School of NSW has a class at Horsley Park held on Saturday mornings from 9.30am to 12pm for both junior and would open after school hours for juniors on Wednesdays from 3.30pm to 5pm and a class for adult beginners on Fridays from 7pm to 9pm on a Friday. They also urge those interested to pass their interest onto Mary Pace-Feraud on 9601 2189 or via emailmalteselanguageschoolnsw@hotmail.com Classes for adults started again for term 4 on October 14, and in the New Year, February 2015 a another class would start up for adult beginners at Seven Hills. They ended their appeal by saying that uld contact the MAYC through their private message on their Facebook page and they will pass on the message. The youths also believe on doing things by example so they point out that all members of MAYC have been attending Maltese language classes over the past couple of years and have learnt, improved and enjoyed it so much. The Voice of the Maltese 19 Tuesday November 25, 2014 T hey came from far and wide even from Melbourne and Malta. The second annual gathering of people with connections with the village of BirΩebbu©a met at the Merryland RSL NSW to reminisce and be entertained. A power-point presentation was screened featuring the beauty of this seaside resort. BirΩebbu©a is a growing seaside resort in the South East of Malta, lying between Kalafrana and the fishing village of They love BirΩebbu©a Marsaxlokk. BirΩebbu©a hosts around 10,000 inhabitants, and has been a popular tourist destination particularly because of the archaeological sites of G˙ar Dalam and Borg in-Nadur, as well as the sandy beach of Pretty Bay. The village derives its name from Maltese, translating into a ‘well of olives’. The event was the brainchild of Emanuel Camilleri from Cecil Park NSW. Those attending were entertained to lively music. Mostly it was the camaraderie that comes with gatherings like this that was so evident. We are One but We are Many The Maltese community in NSW says: Thank you Australia AUSTRALIA DAY 2015 Sunday, 25 January 2015 at the Holroyd Centre 17 Miller Street Merrylands (parking on site) An afternoon of celebration From 3.30pm Entrance free. Light refreshments provided. All welcome Organised by the Maltese Community Council of NSW The members of the new Committee of the Maltese Bowlers Social Group GEORGE CROSS FALCONS CLUB Inc. (25-27 Lake Ave Cringila NSW 2502, (02) 4273 0906 gcfc@exemail.com.au) Monday Seniors’ Day Every Monday Home-made cooked two-course meal, tea and coffee Bingo and dancing lessons, computers available for usage. Cost only $5.00. Sponsored by MCCI Illawarra. Phone 42 746121 and leave a message. (Numbers are growing and been reaching around 95 every Monday) Maltese Bowlers Social Group (NSW) Committee 2014 T he 2014 anual general meeting of the Maltese Bowlers Social Group (NSW) was held recently at their home base, the Rosehill Bowling Club supervised by the returning officer, Lino Vella AM. As a result of an election, the new committee will be made up of the following: President: Victor Fenech; V/President: Moses Mifsud; Secretary: Tony PaceFéraud; Treasurer: Carmen Samuel; Bowls Secretary: Lina Rolé; Social Organiser: Lilian Attard; PRO: Mary Pace- Féraud; Committee Members: Michael Vassallo, Mitchell Delamotte 20 The Voice of the Maltese Tuesday November 25, 2014 St Francis of Assisi Parish at Warrawong NSW Parish Founded by Maltese in ‘56 In 1956, the Maltese community founded the Catholic Parish of Warrawong just a few minutes south of Wollongong, NSW. It is something that many may have since forgotten or are not aware of. It is still under the pastoral care of the Maltese Franciscan Friars. In the early 1950s the Maltese felt the need for a Maltese priest to meet their spiritual needs. Many Maltese came to the Illawarra region to work at the Port Kembla steelworks that took thousands of Post-World War II migrants. In 1953, the Maltese community took the opportunity of a visit then Maltese Archbishop Michael Gonzi made to the region and appealed to him to provide a Maltese priest to look after the spiritual needs of the community. They also approached Bishop McCabe of Wollongong to provide them with a Maltese priest. The first priest to join the Maltese community was Fr Victor Bonello from Xag˙ra, Gozo in March 1956. He faced many challenges and had to endure a number of sacrifices on the way to establishing the parish that had just been separated from the Port Kembla parish. As parish priest, in 1960 Fr Bonello also set up a Primary school next to the church that was run by Maltese Franciscan sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. They were responsible for the teaching and the administration. Sister Grace Cini, is still present in the Warrawong convent and on November 7 last celebrated her 50th anniversary as a nun. - Lawrence Scerri Archbishop Gonzi with the Maltese community in 1953 during his visiting to the Illawarra region From a 2006 booklet about the Warrawong Parish Commemorative by Fr Leonard Testa Sailing on MS Skaubryn 60 years ago he picture of MS Skaubryn that was it. The ship itself was damaged with the T featured on page 3 in Issue 87 of The propeller breaking in half. That slowed our Voice of the Maltese brings memories of journey to a crawl. when at age 10 in 1955 I sailed on this ship on the way to Australia with my family. What an adventure that journey turned out to be! The Norwegian passenger ship that was launched on October 7, 1950 and sailed between Europe and Australia looked very attractive in the Grand Harbour in Valletta as we approached it by a small boat that took us on board. Once on board however, we encountered a different story altogether; it left much to be desired. Our cabin was small and noisy and while we had it bad, others were much worse off having to sleep in dormitories. As kids we made the best of a very bad situation and all was going fine until we struck a tremendous storm in the Indian Ocean, but thanks be to God we survived All the ships that the Skaubryn had earlier passed on the way easily overtook the limping ship as it slowly made its way to Fremantle, and after spending quite some time there for repairs we were off again on our final leg to Melbourne and Sydney. So a journey that was expected to take around 28 days ended up taking 34. I remember former Floriana and one of Malta’s top footballers, Tony Vella and leading Maltese identity Terry Muscat both also being on this ship. On her next journey to Australia in April 1958, the Skaubryn caught fire and sank in the Indian Ocean. All on board were rescued, but one man died from a heart attack. It was interesting to see the picture of MS Skaubryn anchored in the Grand Harbour just like I remember it nearly 60 years ago. - Victor Brincat Leo’s Vehicle Rentals Guaranteed cheapest rates All vehicles in NRMA road Service Low holding Deposit Discount for weekly rentals Shuttle service to the Airport Phone: 9622 2208 Mob: 0418 405 271 102 Kildare Rd Blacktown NSW 2148 The Voice of the Maltese 21 Tuesday November 25, 2014 Community News Maltese Community Council of NSW Inc Alfred Fenech Maltese Resource Centre 59b Franklin Street (cr with Young Street) Mays Hill NSW. Phone: 02 98220228 Maltese living at the Central Coast Tune In to Radio and Television Maltese Radio Programmes MELBOURNE, on 3ZZZ 92.3FM or on www.3zzz.com.au. Mondays 5pm, Fridays 5pm, Saturdays 10am.; Last Wednesday each month at 1pm. MELBOURNE on 98.9 North West FM, each Friday 6.00 - 7.00p.m. Presenter Emmanuel Brincat. MELBOURNE: STEREO 974 (93180930): 97.4FM Wed (Maltese Magazine) & Thursday (Merhba): 6.00pm to 8.00 pm Co-ordinator – Ray Anastasi In SYDNEY, listen to the MCC radio programme Sunday at 11am 2GLF FM 89.3, or on demand: www.893fm.com.au In BRISBANE listen to the Maltese Program on 4EB on Tuesdays 6.00 -8.15am; Sundays 4.15pm to 5.15pm UNCLE SAM DJ (Maltese Radio) tune in to link: www.unclesamdj.com Maltese Programmes on TV and Web The GDAY MALTAUSSIE SHOW on TVS is broadcast in Sydney Every Saturday at 2pm; Repeats on Mondays 5 pm and Tuesdays 7.30 am Watch direct via HYPERLINK: http://ww.tvs.org.au; http://ww.tvs.org.au The SBS MALTESE NEWS Our first Group Meeting to be held on Monday December 1 at: Wyong RSL, Cnr Anzac & Margaret Street Wyong from 10am to 12pm. It will be a Social gettogether, a chance to meet, exchange ideas and interests, to discuss needs for the Maltese residents living on the Central Coast Morning Tea will be provided. After that we would be meeting every first Monday of each month, starting February 2, 2015 at the same venue Censina Cefai (Community Development Officer) Tel: 02 439 000 12 or 0414 267 652 On SBS Radio - Day Time Analogue Digital Tuesday: 12:00-13:00 SBS Radio 3 Thursday: 12:00-13:00 SBS Radio 3 Friday: 12:00-13:00 97.7fm SBS Radio 2 Saturday: 14:00-15:00: 97.7fm SBS Radio 2 To tune into digital radio you need receiver or device with a DAB+ chip. Tuning in is by station name not frequency. Digital radio can also be heard on digital TV. SBS Radio 2 is on Channel 38 and SBS. Radio 3 is on Channel 39. Analogue is the present FMwavelength. Digital radio can also be accessed by a smart phone and/or by going online at HYPERLINK: http://www.sbs.com.au, www.sbs.com.au VIVA MALTA VIVA MALTA on Central Coast Radio: December 4, 18 from 6 pm -7 pm on COAST FM 96.3 Community Radio in Gosford NSW. Presenter: Nathalie Gatt. Web streaming on: www.coastfm.org.au. L-A˙barijiet on SBS TV twice a week nationwide Sunday at 8.00 am on SBS2 (Chan. 32); Thursdays at 8.05 am on SBS2 Meetings of Day Care Maltese Groups in NSW Fairfield Active Maltese Seniors Meets on the first Tuesday of the Month from10:00am to 12 noon. The group meets in the Parish Hall, cnr of Stella Street & The Boulevard, Fairfield Heights. Daceyville Maltese Seniors Meets on the last Wednesday of the month in the Meeting Room One, No. 3 General Bridges Crescent, Daceyville. Note: The Groups also arrange regular Bus Trips Come and join us and make new friends.. Merrylands Social Maltese Seniors Meets every second Friday of the month; Miller Room, Memorial Avenue Merrylands from 10.30am to 12.30 am Llandillo Maltese Seniors Meets on the first Wednesday of the month at the Llandilo Community Hall, Seventh Avenue, from 11am to 1pm. Greystanes Maltese Seniors Meets on the second Monday of the month n the George Preca Centre of The Maltese Language School of NSW The Maltese Language School of NSW invites applications for Maltese language classes at the Alfred Fenech Maltese Resource Centre located at 59b Franklin Street (corner with Young Street) Mays Hill (next to Parramatta West Public School). Both young and adult students may apply. For more information contact Mary Pace-Feraud on 9601 2189 or email: malteselanguageschoolnsw@hotmail.com You can have full access The Voice of the Maltese online anytime by logging to: http://www.maltesewelfare.com.au and click on The Voice sign OLQP Church, 198 Old Prospect Road, Greystanes from 10 am to 12 noon The Sutherland & St George Maltese Group Ongoing: We meet every First Wednesday of the Month from 10:00am-1:00pm Our Meetings/Get Togethers are interesting, informative & entertaining. Come Join us and make new Friends For more information contact our Coordinator: Charles Mifsud J.P.Phone (02) 9501 5525 – mobile 0421 662 298 *(All Groups are Sponsored by The Maltese Community Council of NSW). Please contact the MCC Welfare Officer: Marisa Previtera JP on 0414 863 123. The MCC offices are at 59b Franklin Street Mays Hill NSW (next to West Parramatta Primary School) 22 The Voice of the Maltese Tuesday November 25, 2014 C Co om mm mu un niit ty y N Ne ew ws s FEAST OF SAINT NICHOLAS SUNDAY DECEMBER 7 THE MALTESE GUILD OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA INC. Good Shepherd Parish 130-136 Hyatts Road, Plumpton Maltese Cultural Centre 6, Jeanes Street Beverley S A 5009 Phone Tuesday’s only: 8243 0868. AH: 8254 6988/0421 791 327 (Opposite Shopping Centre) 3.00pm: Church Service Festa Mass in English: Principal Celebrant: Fr B Sant mssp, assisted by Parish Priest Fr G O’Dempsey and Fr C Borg mssp. Homily in Maltese by Fr B Sant. The JC Choir directed by J Beale 4.00pm: Procession Marches by Our Lady Queen of Peace Band Food for Sale: Maltese Foods and drinks. 5.00pm: Entertainment DJ’s Tony & Paul from Maltese Radio–SWR FM Direct from Malta; Our Lady Queen of Peace Band Christmas Carols by JC Choir; Entertainment for Children 6.30pm: Draw of St Nicholas Festa Committee Raffle 7.00pm: Arrival of Santa Claus Lollies and goodies given to all children 8.30pm: Fireworks Display Spectacular Extra Special Fireworks Display by FX Display Co. For further information please call Bill Schembri 0416 261 415 or Joe Fenech 0412 009 957 (Sunshine or hail – no problem we have a Big Hall) COME AND BRING YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS WITH YOU Malta Society of New Zealand We now have a Facebook page that former members are invited to join. It is: Mainly-Maltese-in-Aucklan: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mainly-Maltese-inAuckland/ 396193070527203?ref=hl. It is open to all who have an interest in the Maltese culture. St John Sydney Xewkija Association Presents Christmas Get-Together held on Saturday December 6 at 6.30 p.m. at Mandavilla Function Centre Downstairs, 1788 The Horsely Drive, Horsley Park Food: buffet and dessert. Price $35 each (Everybody to get his own drinks, or they can be bought from the centre) For information contact: Sam: 46841617; Rose: 96285424; Elija: 96226047; John: 96766992; or Martin: 0417237524 Email: malguild@adam.com.au Website: www.malteseguild.webs.com Socials, Meals, Multicultural Events, Bus Trip Excursions For the Aged are partly supported by Functions Calendar for the year of 2015. Supported by Australia Day Luncheon Australia Day Luncheon AWAY” BusBus TripTrip AWAY” at Maltese Cultural Centre AshesAshes MassMass at Maltese Cultural Centre Maltese Cultural Centre AnniverMaltese Cultural Centre 38th 38th Anniversary sary Dinner Dance Dinner Dance Adelaide Luncheon March 9th Monday Adelaide Cup Cup Luncheon Monday Easter Monday Luncheon April 6st Monday Easter Monday Luncheon Monday Queens Birthday Luncheon June 8th Monday Queens Birthday Luncheon Monday July 19th Sunday Bus Bus Trip Trip Sunday Celebrating St. Mary August 11th Tuesday Celebrating MassMass St. Mary Tuesday Feast of Mary St. Mary August 16th Sunday Feast of St. Sunday National Dinner Dance September 12th Saturday MaltaMalta National Day Day Dinner Dance Saturday Tad-Duluri September 15th Tuesday FestaFesta Tad-Duluri MassMass Tuesday Annual General Meeting September 27th Sunday Annual General Meeting Sunday Labour Day Luncheon October 5th Monday Labour Day Luncheon Monday Melbourne Cup Luncheon November 3rd Tuesday Melbourne Cup Luncheon Tuesday DaysBus BusTrip, Trip,Place PlaceofofTour Tour(To(ToBeBeNotified) Notified) November 13, 14, 15 &16th Fri, Fri,Sat, Sat,Sun, Sun,Mon Mon 4 4Days Mass November 17th Tuesday MassforforthetheDeceased DiseasedMembers Members Tuesday Members December 19th Saturday MembersXmas XmasParty Party Saturday New December 31st Thursday NewYear’s Year’sEve EveDinner DinnerDance Dance Thursday January 26th February 15th February 17th February 28th Monday Sunday Sunday Tuesday Tuesday Saturday Saturday Please Note! The Maltese Cultural Centre will open every Tuesday From 10am till 3pm of every week, starting on January 13 to December 19, 2015 Date of Events are subject to be altered if needed to be changed. FRIENDS OF PROVIDENCE HOUSE NSW (Formed in November 2011) Founder /Coordinator: Jim Borg Structure: Secretary: Marisa Previtera; Treasurer: Rita Kassas Official Bank Account: Commonwealth Bank of Australia: BSB: 062 416 A/C 10199448 Aim of Association: Raising funds for Id-Dar tal-Providenza, Malta Money raised so far: 2012/2013 - $ 2,500 and 2013/2014 $35,000. Method of fund raising: Functions, tours, donations, raffles, sponsors. Percentage of funds raised donated to Id-Dar tal-Providenza, Malta – 100% Future fund raising: Donations direct to the official bank account, sponsorships, tours, functions and raffles. The Friends of Providence House NSW is the official Ambassador of Id-Dar tal-Providenza, Malta in Australia Contact details: Jim Borg, Co-ordinatorPhone: (02) 9636 7767 (Mb) 0418 825 591 Email: foph@bigpond.com Proudly supported by: The Voice of the Maltese 23 Tuesday November 25, 2014 Community News St Nicholas Festa Committee (NSW) 2015 Calendar of events March 22: Autumn Fiera July 5: Lejla fil-Buskett October 18: Spring Fiera November 28: Night of Entertainment December 6: Festa ta’ San Nikola The Xaghra Association of NSW Inc. INVITES YOU TO COME & CELEBRATE: AUSTRALIA DAY Date: Saturday January 24 2015 Time: Doors open 6.30 pm for 7.00pm start Place: Mandavilla Function Centre, 1788 The Horsley Drive, Horsley Park Entertainer: Joe Apap Dinner: 3 Course Meal, Beer, Wine, Soft Drinks, tea, coffee & pastizzi Also antipasto plus fruit platters For more information contact: Ray & Josephine Bigeni: 9627 4182, Mob: 0439 974 182 M'Anne Teuma: 9627 4641 You are invited to attend an information night La Valette Social Centre Programme 2014 Changes to Centrelink, Tax, Pension and Aged Care Wednesday 26th November 2014 at 7.30 pm Our Lady Queen of Peace Church, Dun George Preca Hall, 198 Old Prospect Rd, Greystanes 2145 November 23: Sunday (Rabtin and their friends) - cost $45 for a 3course meal. Entertainment by Rocking Mustangs. Compare: Charlie Camilleri. From 12.30 pm till 5pm. November 29: Saturday G˙ana at the Centre. Entrance is free. Everybody is invited to attend. From 8.00 pm New years eve Dinner Dance at la Valette Social Centre. Entertainment to be provided by Charlie Camilleri and the Rocking Mustangs. More information later. For bookings and information phone: The Centre: 96225847; Charlie Camilleri : 0410523476; Frances 04123204320; Antoinette 96712992 DECEMBER: Saturday 20 Christmas function at Melrose Tullamarine with DJ Dominic in attendance We also do weekend trips to Tocumwal & Barham 2014 For more information one should phone Victor Bartolo: 93798387 - Mobile: 0412 991 325; Joe Borg: 93044414 & Joe Busuttil: 93118968; Mary Abdilla: 93705164 & Mary Bartolo, Mobile: 0417 549 724 L-a˙barijiet tal-PBS (Malta) G˙alkemm il-PBS ta’ Malta tforni lill-SBS fl-Awstralja bisservizz tag˙ha, il-qarrejja m˙e©©a li x’˙in iridu jid˙lu fil-website: www.tvm.com.mt u jsegwu l-a˙barijiet ta’ Malta. Din tkun a©©ornata l-˙in kollu bi stejjer li jkunu qed ise˙˙u. Mhux biss, imma min irid isegwi dak li jkun g˙addej, kull filg˙odu ˙in ta' Malta fuq il-website jittellg˙u wkoll l-a˙barijiet tal-jum ta' qabel. Tixtieq tkun taf iktar fuq tibdiliet tas-Centrelink, Taxxa, Pensjoni u Aged Care? X’hemm ©did li jista’ jaffetwa l-finanzi tieg˙ek? Lejla ta’ Tag˙rif L-Erbgħa, 26 ta’ Novembru 2014, fis-7.30 pm Our Lady Queen of Peace Church, Dun George Preca Hall, 198 Old Prospect Rd, Greystanes 2145 Mrs Muscat, li hija esperta f’dan il-qasam tal-ippjanar finanzjarju, tispjega b’mod sempliċi u tkun tista’ twieġeb ukoll gћall-mistoqsijiet taghkom bl-Ingliż jew bil-Malti. Għal aktar tag˙rif çemplu lil Lawrence Dimech 9631 9295 Sponsored by: The Voice of the Maltese online can be accessed anytime by logging to: http://www.maltesewelfare.com.au and clicking on: The Voice sign Remaining activities for 2014 Presentation and Question time will be bi-lingual. ALL WELCOME. Free Entry. Light refreshments provided. For more information please phone Lawrence Dimech 9631 9295 December 9 - Tuesday - A trip for Cherry-picking at Orange. Lunch at Orange RSL at one’s own expense (or bring your own) - cost $55 per person; children $30. That includes coach and morning tea. Coach leaves from Greystanes at 6. am, and from La Valette at 6.15 am ST HELENA MALTESEAUSTRALIAN S.C. INC. Mrs. Marie-Louise Muscat, Certified Financial Planner Marie Louise Muscat is a Representative ofFiducian Financial Services Pty Ltd ABN 46 094 765 134 AFSL and Australian Credit Licence 231103 www.fiducianfs.com.au Phone: 9231 2133 Division of the Maltese Community Council of NSW Inc. PO Box 5332, Greystanes LPO, NSW 2145 Learn Maltese! Learn the Maltese language, the culture, lifestyle, cuisine, traditions and about the amazing history of this magnificent Mediterranean island. Our trained and experienced teachers are qualified in language teaching and have Maltese study credentials. Classes available for students from 6 yrs to adults at all levels of ability in the Maltese language. Classes are held at: SEVEN HILLS HORSLEY PARK The Meadows Public Sch. Horsley Park Public School Fuller Street, Seven Hills 1759 The Horsley Drive, Horsely Park SCHOFIELDS - Terra Sancta College. Hambeldon Rd, Schofields For more information and all enquiries call Mary Pace Feroud on (02)9601 2189 24 The Voice of the Maltese Tuesday November 25, 2014 Sports Malta draws in Bulgaria to get first point in EURO 2016 M alta had a mountain to climb in the EURO 2016 qualifiers at the Vasil Levski Stadium in Sofia as it had to face Bulgaria, and particularly after finding itself a goal down after six minutes. However, in the end, Malta did successfully climb the mountain by emerging from a hard ordeal with heads held high following a 1-1 draw for Malta’s first point after four outings in Group H. In so doing, Malta regained some lost prestige after the drubbing it got a year ago in a 6-0 loss to the same opponents in a World Cup qualifier, and also dealt a blow to Bulgaria’s hopes of reaching the finals of the competition. The result also proved costly for Bulgaria’s coach, Luboslav Penev who was sacked two days later. Malta performed well and building on a defensive setup it not only managed to change what could have been an uphill battle after conceding the early goal scored Clayton Failla once again proving to be our best player. The player showed his coolness when he was called upon to take the important penalty that levelled the scores after 49 minutes. It was no surprise that Bulgaria put the pressure on Malta from the outset and held the upper hand by keeping the ball in Malta’s half of the field. They threatened to take deal even before Andrej Galabinov scored after six minutes by stabbing the ball into the Malta net from close range after Mihail Alexandrov had headed Ivelin Popov's cross into his path. However, in the few instances that we attacked, our breakaways found the Bulgarians most wanting and the Maltese were even denied what should have been a penalty before Malta gained one in the 49th Malta’s U/19s beat Gibraltar Malta’s youths beat Gibraltar 3-1 for their only win from three outings in Group 6 of the UEFA U/19 qualifiers in Eire. The Maltese lost the other matches against the hosts, and 7-1 against Switzerland. after six min- Clayton Failla (left) utes but in the celebrates with Schemend looked full bri after levelling the value for the score from a penalty point it got. Full credit to the players and coach Pietro Ghedin that Malta got the result it deserved. Following the narrow defeat suffered in Malta against Italy in the previous match, the players gave another mature performance with minute when Paul Fenech was brought down by Ivelin Popov. Clayton Failla fired high to Vladislav Stoyanov's left to draw Malta level. It was the side’s first goal in the group ending Football: Malta Premier League Hibs extend lead to 12 pts When it comes to Balzan, they kicked off f resuts keep on going the way they are, IAfter than this should be Hibernians’ season. the season in style, but have now gone six beating Balzan 3-0 in their re- matches without a win and drop to fourth arranged Round 11 fixture and Floriana 50 in Round 12, the Paolites have managed to open a 12-point gap over runners-up Valletta who managed to leapfrog over Birkirkara after two surprise defeats aganst Floriana and Pieta. Hibs have only dropped two points from 12 matches, in the process, a drawn tie against Tarxien, so sit comfortably on top with 34 points. Valletta’s improvement has pushed them to second place but Birkirkara’s fall from grace is most astonishing with five defeats, including the one against bottom but one team Pieta. AFC Champions Wanderers, A-Lge Champions Brisbane pointless Perth Glory opened up a three-point gap at the top of the Hyundai A-League table at the end of their Round 7 clash on Friday by downing Wellington Phoenix 2-1 at the nib Stadium despite being reduced to 10 men in the second half. However, by the end of the weekend, their gap was reduced to just one point from Adelaide United who beat Central Coast away with Pablo Sanchez brace. Melbourne Victory and Sydney FC kept pace with title contenders by also winning their matches. Kevin Muscat’s Melbourne Victory defeated defending champions Brisbane Roar 1-0 at the Etihad Stadium, while Sydney FC their scoreless drought at 319 minutes. Bulgaria had the chance to clinch all three points but Popov skied the ball over the bar from a penalty awarded for a foul by Muscat on Iliev on 76 minutes. beat Melbourne City away from home by 21. Both are two points further down. RESULTS: Round 7 Melbourne V. v Brisbane R Perth Glory v Wellington Ph Western Sydney v Newcastle Jets Melbourne Citv v Sydney W Central Coast v Adelaide U Round 6 Newcastle Jets v Brisbane Roar v Adelaide U v Wellington Ph Sydney FC v Melbourne V. Perth Glory v Western Syd W Melbourne C v Central Coast 1-0 2-1 1-1 1-2 0-2 0-4 2-1 0-0 2-1 2-2 place to be overtaken by Valletta. RESULTS: Round 12 Hibernians v Floriana 5-0 Pieta H v Birkirkara 4-3 Edison Luis dos Santos, Jorge Pereira da Silva (2), Clayton Failla, Andrew Cohen Luke Micallef, Terence Agius, Jurgen Pisani, Claudio Frances (P); Ellinton Antonio Costa Morais (2), Rafael Ledesma (B) Balzan v Ûebbu© R. 1-1 Sliema W. v Tarxien R. 2-0 Gianmarco Piccioni (B); Bojan Mamic (Z) Michael Mifsud, Fabio Mangiacasale Vallett v Mosta Shaun Bajada, Roderick Briffa, Lateef Elford-Alliyu, Abdelkarim Nafti, Luke Montebello Qormi v Naxxar L Duncan Pisani (Q); Gilmar da Silva Ribeiro (N) 5-0 1-1 Round 11 (postponed games) Hibernians v Balzan 3-0 Floriana v Birkirkara 2-1 Rodolfo Soares 2, Bjorn Kristensen Matteo Piciollo, Vito Plut (F), Zach Muscat (B) Standings Hibernians Valletta Birkirkara Balzan Qormi Sliema W. Mosta Floriana Tarxien R.Pieta H. Naxxar L. Ûebbu© R. P 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 W 11 7 7 4 4 4 5 3 2 3 2 0 D 1 1 0 5 4 4 1 5 6 3 5 5 L 0 4 5 3 4 4 6 4 4 6 5 7 F 37 24 21 16 14 12 11 17 14 11 14 13 A 9 7 14 17 14 13 25 25 16 20 18 29 Pts 34 22 21 17 16 16 15 14 12 12 11 5
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