December 22, 2015

The custom of a decorated Christ-mas tree has also become an at-traction. (Left): A seven-metreChristmas tree made of 2000glass baubles delicately puttogether by Mdina Glassat City Gate in Valletta,Malta; (Right): theworld’s largest displayof Christmas lightson a Christmastree in Canberrathat earned aspot in therecordbooks (seepage 11)

Even though new customs have been introduced throughout theyears, particularly among Christians, no Christmas can be cele-brated without the Crib, which originally meant a manger andnow has come to mean a child’s bed or a tableau of Mary and

Joseph gathered around Jesus in a stable.

Christmas and

New Year

Greetings

Ayear has passed since I sent my first message to you,as President of Malta, for Christmas and the NewYear. The past year has been an eventful one for the

Presidency, for Malta, for our region and indeed, for theworld. On a personal note, it has been a journey of love, where I

focused on the needs of people, when I was their voice anda shoulder for them to lean on. I also kept my pledge to tryto bring unity among people, inspired by solidarity and so-cial justice; a pledge that will remain unchanged till theend of my tenure. The Presidency has enjoyed a very active year, with events

ranging from official commemorations to conferences andseminars, visits to schools and hospitals, and the setting upof entities.

One such entity is the National Cancer Platform, whichbrings together all non-government organisations workingwith cancer patients and their families, offering support tocancer patients and their relatives at the Sir Anthony MamoOncology Hospital.

In April this year, I re-established the Malta CommunityChest Fund as a Foundation, which provides specialisedtreatment for people with cancer, and other illnesses, andfinancial and social support to people in need. The Foun-dation also supports Maltese patients, who require treat-ment abroad, as well as their accompanying relatives.

The President’s Foundation for the Wellbeing of Societyhas continued with its aim to bring people together, givingthem an opportunity to dialogue. With this in mind, manyfora were held throughout the year bringing together peoplefrom diverse cultures, beliefs, religions and genders, wherepeople shared their experiences and hopes for the future.

At the International level, Malta hosted two important

meetings, the EU-African Sum-mit on Migration and the Com-monwealth Heads of Govern-ment Meeting.

The EU-African Summit onMigration brought leaders fromthe European Union and NorthAfrica round the table to discuss migration in the Mediter-ranean. I hope that decisions taken during this Summit willmake a difference to people on the move.

The CHOGM meeting was also held in Malta this year.While the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meetingheld in 2011 in Australia focused on women as agents ofchange, this year Malta hosted the first ever Women’sForum. The Women’s Forum gave recognition to the role of women

in society today, as well as to the reality of their everydaylives. During the CHOGM meeting, Baroness Patricia Scot-land was elected as Secretary General of the Common-wealth, the first lady to ever hold this post.

The Maltese Presidency has been invited as a championof the United Nations HeforShe campaign, which aims toput across the message that men have to be protagonists inthe process of building societies that are more equitable, in-clusive, just and free from violence.

The many important events taking place in Malta hasgiven our nation even more visibility as a hub for peaceand dialogue. As Maltese living in Australia, you are anintegral part of this and I would like you to be proud of yourcountry’s achievements. As your President, I am proud ofyou and of your successes.

I send my heartfelt wishes to you all for a Blessed Christ-mas and a year filled with health, peace and happiness.

Message by H.E. President of Malta, Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca

4 The Voice of the Maltese Tuesday December 22, 2015

Message from the Maltese High Commissioner, Canberra, Australia

Charles Muscat

As Head of Mission in Australiaand with great satisfaction, I can

say that all three offices, namely, theChancery in Canberra, the ConsulsGeneral in Sydney and Melbourne, in-cluding the Honorary Consuls havehad a very hectic 2015.

Whilst the Department of ForeignAffairs in Malta was preparing for

the two main summits that Maltahosted towards the end of 2015, namelythe Valletta Summit on Immigrationand Commonwealth Head of Govern-ment Meeting (CHOGM), the HighCommission promoted these hostings tothe diplomatic corps and the local com-munity with Ms. Gabby Sultana’spiano performance, an art exhibition,and the Cosmos Music Ensemble’s per-formance.

The High Commission was kept verybusy with the usual consular and other

diplomatic and political work. Year2015 saw an increase in citizenshipand passport applications. I take thisopportunity to thank our Consuls Gen-eral and Honorary Consuls, togetherwith their locally engaged staff, fortheir cooperation and the hard workthey conducted during this year. I alsowould like to thank my Deputy Dr.Joseph Pirotta and staff at the HighCommission in Canberra for their sup-port and cooperation. With the limited resources available I

managed to visit some communities.My relations with the Department ofForeign Affairs and Trade and theDiplomatic Corps have been constant,giving us the opportunity to maintainthe excellent relations that exist be-tween Malta and Australia.During this festive season, I take this

opportunity to send a message to all

leaders of theMaltese Com-munity and thecommunity atlarge to keep upthe good workbinding us to-gether as one family and to preserve thereal Maltese spirit of tolerance and re-spect for each other.

On behalf of my wife Victoria andmyself, the officers and staff of theHigh Commission, Consulates Generaland Honorary Consuls, I extend to youmy wishes for a Blessed Christmas anda Peaceful and Prosperous New Year.

Messa©© mill-Prim Ministru Malti, Dr. Joseph Muscat

B˙al daΩ-Ωmien sen’ilu, pajjiΩna beda jimbotta miΩurili jippremjaw il-bΩulija tal-Maltin u l-G˙awdxin. Nide-jna numru kbir ta’ inizjattivi li jinçentivaw ix-xog˙ol

u ˙dimna biex intejjbu l-kunçett ta’ making work pay. Illumqeg˙din f’qag˙da fejn naraw il-frott ta’ dak li Ωrajna. Se nag˙lqu l-2015 bl-inqas rata ta’ qg˙ad fl-istorja, riΩultat

ta’ ekonomija li qed tikber bl-og˙la rata li qatt kienet irre©is-trata mindu bdiet tin©abar l-istatistika u li qed taqbeΩ il-pre-viΩjonijiet tal-esperti ekonomiçi. F’Malta qed titrawwemklima li fiha wie˙ed i˙ossu komdu li jΩid u jkabbar in-ne-gozju, u fuq kollox jinvesti u jimpjega n-nies.

Naf li matul din is-sena intom il-Maltin ta’ barra, fosthomfl-Awstralja, segwejtu b’interess kif Malta qamet g˙all-okkaΩjoni f’avvenimenti dinjin li bihom urejna li pajjiΩnajista’ jservi b˙ala pont ta’ djalogu bejn pajjiΩi differenti dwartemi globali. Dan kien l-ikbar test li qatt ©iet sottomessa g˙aliha l-kapaçitatas-settur pubbliku u privat Malti biex jorganiΩΩa mumentita’ dimensjoni dinjija g˙al dabrtejn fuq xulxin. U ˙ri©na bl-unuri kollha u bl-akbar sens ta’ kburija nazzjonali li konvintli ˙assejtu wkoll intom li tg˙ixu ‘l bog˙od minn art twelid-kom.Fil-Valletta Summit ©ibna flimkien il-mexxejja Ewropej ma’

dawk Afrikani biex, wiçç imb wiçç, jiftehmu fuq miΩurikonkreti dwar il-migrazzjoni. Hekk ©ara. Illum il-ftehimmil˙uq f’Malta huwa parti integrali mill-pro©ett tal-immi-grazzjoni fuq livell internazzjonali. Fadal x’isir fuq l-impli-mentazzjoni iΩda m’hemmx dubbju li s-Summit ta’ pajjiΩnakien kruçjali g˙at-triq ‘il quddiem li s˙abna l-Ewropej uAfrikani rridu nimxu flimkien.

L-istess fil-laqg˙a taç-CHOGM, laqqa-jna f’Malta mexxejja ta’ pajjiΩi minnkontinenti differenti, minn gΩejjer vul-nerabbli g˙all-ikbar ekonomiji dinjin.B’deçiΩjoni konxja rsaqna ‘l bog˙odmill-a©enda tradizzjonali u, ftit jiemqabel il-konferenza f’Pari©i, tajna se-hemna biex g˙aqqadna lill-pajjiΩi tal-Commonwealthf’poΩizzjoni ta’ prinçipju dwar it-tibdil fil-klima.

Flimkien ma’ pajjiΩi o˙ra fosthom l-Awstralja stess, ikkom-mettejna ©lieda aktar effettiva kontra t-terroriΩmu usa˙˙a˙na l-impenn tag˙na fl-eradikazzjoni ta’ marda, il-pojio, g˙at-tieni darba fl-istorja.Kienu ©img˙at li matulhom Malta dehret b’mod poΩittiv fid-

dawl internazzjonali. AnaliΩi xjentifika mill-kumpanija in-dipendenti M&CSAATCHI uriet kif, b’dawn iΩ-Ωew©avvenimenti, pajjiΩna ng˙ata viΩibilita fil-mezzi tax-xandirglobali b’valur ta’ €550 miljun. F’mo˙˙ id-dinja Malta hijaassoçjata mal-eççellenza.

Issa ma rridux nistrie˙u, ma nistg˙ux nittraskuraw. Irridli Malta tkun fis-sitwazzjoni fejn in-nies awtomatikamentjassoçjawha mal-aqwa u l-a˙jar.

Kif tajna prova lid-dinja li Malta kapaçi toffri servizz ta’kwalita, l-aspirazzjoni tieg˙i hija li nΩommu dan il-livellg˙oli g˙al 365 ©urnata fis-sena.

Inqsiha b˙ala sfida nazzjonali li rridu nibdew na˙dmufuqha matul is-sena l-©dida. Mhux nilludu ru˙na li solvejnal-problemi kollha imma nistinkaw g˙al iktar riΩultati poΩit-tivi. Bl-g˙aqda li tibqa’ tiddomina bejn il-Maltin u l-G˙awdxin, pajjiΩna jista jsa˙˙a˙ l-attrazzjoni tieg˙u g˙alinvestiment ©did u iktar opportunitajiet g˙all-Maltin u l-G˙awdxin kollha.

F’ismi, u f’isem il-familja tieg˙i, f’isem il-Gvern li mmexxi,lilkom il-Maltin fl-Awstralja nixtieqilkom minn qalbi l-Miliedit-Tajjeb u Sena ©dida mimlija paçi, ©id u hena.

Malta ekonomija b’sah˙itha

Tuesday December 22, 2015 The Voice of the Maltese 5

The editors of The editors of The VoiceThe Voiceof the Maltese of the Maltese wish allwish all

our readers and their famour readers and their fam--ilies a wonderful Christilies a wonderful Christ --mas! May it bring youmas! May it bring you

joy, happiness and everyjoy, happiness and every --thing else you deserve. thing else you deserve.

Happy ChristmasHappy Christmas

Also may the New YearAlso may the New Year2015 be one of health,2015 be one of health,

happiness, wealth, wishappiness, wealth, wis --dom, peace and dom, peace and

prosperity.prosperity.

Happy New YearHappy New Year

Message from the Australian Prime Minister

As we gather with familyand friends this festive

season, we reflect on the tra-ditional meaning of Christmasand consider all the things forwhich we are grateful.

In Australia our blessingsare plentiful—we have ourfreedoms, our egalitarian so-ciety and the boundless possibilities of the yearsahead.

Our diversity is the backbone of this optimism,and our mutual respect is what makes us one ofthe most successful multicultural societies in theworld.Together as Australians, we have come to ac-knowledge that with hard work, resilience, andcreativity, our future will be bright.I send my best wishes to the readers of The Voice

of the Maltese and everyone in Australia’s Maltesecommunity for a relaxing and safe holiday and a2016 filled with peace, happiness and love.

The Hon Malcolm Turnbull MPPrime Minister of Australia

December 2015

1939 onwards this featured a Christ-mas speech by King George VI. Itturned out to be so popular with lis-teners that it became an annual ritual.

In 1939 we had no Tele-vision; news was broad-cast on the Radio, and fewfamilies even had one.The majority of Maltesefamilies could howeverlisten to the news on their(cable radio) Rediffusionset that had only broad-casting stations: Maltese(B switch) and BBC (A).

In Christmas 1941, theair was heavy withsounds. Not bells ringingor children singing in thestreets. It was the soundof air raid alarms thatduring the month of De-

The Maltese family Christmas has al-ways been one of the joys of life. Ra-tioning and air raids could not cancelChristmas spirit. Singing songs and

In many ways, Christmas 1940 wasthe first wartime Christmas ofWorld War II. Celebrating during

heavy rationing and restrictions,while surviving heavy bombing – wasa battle in itself.

Just before Christmas 1940, AdmiralCunningham had fought his way toMalta aboard the battleship Warspite,escorting a small convoy carryingfood and ammunition to Malta, whichhad not been supplied since May.

In order to avoid the bombs, manyfamilies who were lucky to own a pri-vate shelter spent part of the festiveperiod underground in their air raidshelter. Other families who had nopublic shelter to go to, enjoyed Christ-mas dinner, not around the diningtable but under the dining table cov-ered with layers of sand-bags. Several Maltesefamilies celebratedChristmas 1940 in theirplace of refuge in the sis-ter island, Gozo.

Rationing of food andother goods duringWorld War II changed thesocial landscape in theMaltese Islands. This cre-ated a national culture ofingenuity, austerity andmaking-do.

MALTA: Echoes

from the past

DorisCannataci

Christmas, New Year in wartime Malta

“Christmas comes but once a year,and when it comes it brings goodcheer! Therefore, we tried tomake the best of life and greetedeach other even during the blitz.Life had to go on!

”

*Continued on page 5

4 The Voice of the Maltese Tuesday December 22, 2015

Christmas luxuries were especiallyhard to come by at a time when basicfoods were scarce. People were forcedto find substitutes for key festive in-gredients. Housewives had to be cre-ative, “mock” recipes included“cream” with margarine, milk andcorn flour.

carols were part of wartime Christ-mases.

The BBC also broadcasted a specialChristmas Day programme. From

cember sounded 161 times. No Christ-mas bells could be rung and blackoutwas the order of the day. In fact, the traditional midnight Mass

could not be celebratedin any parish. As a spe-cial concession Christ-mas Mass wascelebrated on the eve atabout 4.00 pm or 4.30pm because no lightswere allowed after sun-set. One has to bear inmind that before theSecond Vatican Coun-cil, Mass was never cel-ebrated in the afternoonor in the evening.

Although no SantaClaus, Father Christmasor Christmas tree couldbe seen in public places;families who were stillresiding in their hometown or village couldalways enjoy their tra-ditional crib at home tospread a bit of Christ-mas spirit.

Some of the Malteseeven tried to celebrateChristmas with a nativitycrib this way in wartime

*from page 4

People greeted each other with“Happy Christmas”. We werebrought up to say: “Christmas comesbut once a year, and when it comes itbrings good cheer!” Therefore, wetried to make the best of life andgreeted each other even during theblitz. Life had to go on!In the war time years, Christmas din-

ner did not need any elaborate reci-pes. No Turkey, or any other fowl,cuts of meat were out of the question;no Maltese timpana to celebrate! Ra-tions were scrimped and saved. NoChristmas cake or Christmas pudding,no mince pies, no xkunvat or Qag˙aqtal-Kavatelli no other special goodies! On Christmas Day 1941 what the Vic-

tory Kitchen could provide was a thinslice of corned beef and a tablespoon-ful of baked beans; that was ourChristmas dinner!!!

New Year’s Day 1942 the Germanplanes, Luftwaffe launched the firstrocket-powered bombs on Malta. Thiswas the beginning of intensive bomb-ing and great devastation on the Is-land. I remember the only good newsof the day was: that an eighteen-year-old was baptised, received Holy Com-munion and Confirmation, all in oneday. Most probably the new convertwas a foreigner!

For many families, the most difficultpart of a wartime Christmas would bespending the festive season apart fromtheir loved ones. ARP (Air Raid Pre-

caution) wardens, soldiers, ambulancedrivers, doctors and nurses were al-ways very busy or on call.

Children’s Christmas presents whenafforded were far from gifts displayedin toy shops. Gifts were often home-made and practical, and children’stoys were often made from recycledmaterials. Cards were written onsmall pieces of flimsy paper.

Clothes were: ‘make do and mend’this was the norm. As far as I can re-member no special concessions weregiven either for Christmas or for NewYear.

British Service personnel - Army,Navy and Air force - when not onduty used to godancing in vari-ous halls, or tothe cinema.Likewise a largenumber of Mal-tese were avidcinema-goers,perhaps due tolack of enter-tainment.

The cinema re-tained its popu-larity. Toencourage peo-ple to attend, afew of the pic-ture houses

boasted the presence of an air raidshelter on the premises. Special showsat reduced prices were organised forservicemen.

When in the Grand Harbour condi-tions had eased a little with the arrivalof the latest convoy, the Royal Navycould celebrate with watery beer.Christmas and New Year celebrationsin time of war were bereft of all impor-tant and symbolic festive ingredients.

Let us pray and hope that peace willreign so that everyone can enjoy aHoly and Happy Yuletide.

Happy Christmas and aBlessed New Year to all.

Tuesday December 22, 2015 The Voice of the Maltese 5

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Julia Finn MPMember for Granville

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P: 9637 1656F: 9897 1434E: Granville@parliament.nsw.gov.au

MERRY CHRISTMASMERRY CHRISTMAS

Huwa g˙alhekk segwamexxejja o˙ra minnfost il-komunita` Mal-tija fi NSW li ©ew ono-rati b’xi grad jew ie˙orb'Ìie˙ ir-Repubblikawaqt iç-çerimonja li fihal-President ta’ Malta,Marie Louise ColeiroPreca f’isem il-Gvern u l-Poplu Malti tag˙ti ©ie˙pubbliku lil g˙add ta’Maltin li jiddistingwuru˙hom f’oqsma differ-enti tal-˙ajja.

Kull sena dan l-g˙ar-fien isir b’˙atriet fl-OrdniNazzjonali tal-Mertu jewfix-Xirka Ìie˙ ir-Repub-blika, inkella, kif ing˙a-ta Charles Mifsud u 10persuni/gruppi o˙ra, bl-g˙oti tal-Midalja g˙all-Qadi tar-Repubblika,tnejn minnhom waramewthom, u ie˙or fuqbaΩi onorarja. Wara li a sehem fiç-çe-

rimonja tal-investitura lisaret fil-Palazz, il-BeltValletta Charles Mifsudqal lil The Voice of theMaltese li ˙assu fermkburi u onorat b’din l-g˙otja li fissirha b˙ala g˙arfien g˙all-˙idma tieg˙u g˙al madwar 50 senab'mod volontarju fost il-komunita`Maltija fl-Awstralja, partikolarment fl-istat ta’ NSW.

Charles, li hu mizzewwe© lil Jessienee Martin u missier ta tlett subien(wie˙ed mejjet) ilu jg˙ix fi NSW saminn meta ta’ madwar 15-il sena,kien emigra lejn l-Awstralja flimkienmal-familja, il-©enituri, u o˙tu. Huwa da˙al fid-dinja tax-xog˙ol fl-

in©inerija mekkanika u qatta’ l-a˙˙ar 24 sena tieg˙u fid-dinja tax-xog˙ol fis-sales u l-marketing. B˙al˙afna o˙rajn kien anke g˙amelg˙add ta’ snin fin-National Service.Wara g˙amel ˙ames snin o˙ra fuqbaΩi volontarja u b˙ala part-time, fis-CMF (Citizen Military Forces).

Fejn g˙andha x’taqsam il-˙idma

volontarju fost il-komunita’ ta’ NSW,fis-sittinijiet u parti mis-sibg˙inijiet if-forma parti mill-kumitat tal-klabbtal-futbol tal-Melita Eagles. Kienukoll membru tal-Phoenician Club. Wara waqfa ta’ ftit tas-snin, fl-1985

re©a’ da˙al jifforma parti mill-kumi-tat tal-Melita b˙ala advertising andpromotional manager.

Fl-1988 beda jservi fil-kumitat tal-Maltese Cultural Association (MCA)b˙ala kaxxier, u fl-1996 b˙ala presi-dent. Beda wkoll jifforma parti mill-Maltese Community Council (MCC)ta’ NSW u bejn l-1996 u l-2008 mex-xa mill-kariga ta’ president. Charles huwa wkoll il-president tal-

ferg˙a Maltija tal-RSL ta’ NSW uflimkien ma’ o˙rajn, kull sena, kifg˙andhom id-dritt jag˙mlu, jim-marçjaw fil-parata tal-ANZAC.

Flimkien ma’ Wilfred Redman, fl-2010, kien strumentali biex ©iemwaqqaf il-grupp soçjali mag˙rufb˙ala s-Sutherland and St George Mal-tese Group li ©eneralment jiltaqa’darba fix-xahar ˙alli jiddiskuti ma-terji soçjali u anke jippjana ˙ar©ietta’ interess g˙all-membri.

Fil-˙idma tieg˙u fil-komunita` jif-ta˙ar bl-inizjattiva li permezz tag˙hatwaqqfet l-Iskola tal-Malti, fejn kienanke chairman tal-board. Imma l-akbar sodisfazzjon tieg˙u kien metafl-1996 permezz ta’ ittra lill-gvern ta’dak iΩ-Ωmien, inbdiet ˙idma biexulied l-emigranti Maltin ukoll jibdewjing˙ataw iç-çittadinanza Maltija. Erba’ snin wara, anke jekk ta˙t am-

ministrazzjoni differenti, il-Parla-ment Malti g˙adda din il-li©i, li skontCharles mhux biss gawdew minnawlied l-emigranti Maltin, immawkoll il-pajjiΩ. Semma li kien hemmfost dawn l-ulied min anke xtara pro-prjeta` f’Malta u qed ji©i Malta kullsena. Meta ma jkunx qed juΩahajikriha lill-barranin u hekk tgawdiwkoll il-kaxxa ta’ Malta g˙ax alluraj˙allsu wkoll it-taxxi..

Kien pass tajjeb g˙aliex permezzt’hekk, ulied l-emigranti jistg˙u jib-qg˙u jg˙oΩΩu aktar l-g˙eruq Maltintag˙hom.

Jidher li l-unur li Charles ing˙ataf’Malta, se jΩid i˙e©©u fil-˙idma tie-g˙u fost il-Maltin fl-Awstralja.

Wara li ftit tal-©img˙at ilu, flimkienmal-membri l-o˙ra tal-RSL onorawlilll-Maltin li mietu (1914-1918) ji©-©ieldu fil-qawwiet Awstraljani u ta’New Zealand bi plakka kommemorat-tiva, issa beda ja˙dem biex l-istessMaltin, jigu mfakkra bi plakka sepa-rata fuq il-monument tal-ANZAC lihemm fil-©onna tal-Argotti l-Furjana.

JosephCutajar

Il-Malti-Awstraljan Charles Mifsud kien wie˙edminn 24 persuna li fit-13 ta' Diçembru ©ew ono-rati f'g˙eluq il-41 sena ta' Malta Repubblika.

6 The Voice of the Maltese Tuesday December 22, 2015

Charles Mifsud:Mog˙ti Ìie˙ ir-Repubblikafrott 50 sena ˙idma fost il-komunita`

Charles f’mument kommoven-ti li fih ©ie ppreΩentat bil-mi-dalja mill-President ta’ Malta,u (xellug) kburi juri l-midalji

Tuesday December 22, 2015 The Voice of the Maltese 7

When one delves into the tradi-tions of Christmas in Maltaone has to keep in mind that

Malta is predominantly Christian andmost of the Maltese community triesto follow the teachings of the CatholicChurch and its traditions that stillstand solidly today.

Christmas has always been one ofthe most popular, if not the most pop-ular feasts in Malta, and traditions atthis time of year take one back to thetime when, as an island in the centreof the Mediterranean it was greatly in-fluenced by neigh-bourly Sicily.

Throughout theyears many of the-se traditions disap-peared but somestill stick with us.One such was thehanging up of reddamask on the in-side of church wallsand the placing ofthe statuette ofBaby Jesus in thechurch’s side alcoveclose, or on themain altar. BabyJesus was, and stillis, particularly inchurches, deco-rated with ‘©ilbiena’(vetches).

Ìilbiena (grainthat is sowed somefive weeks beforeChristmas in batches in separate potson a bedding of cotton wool. These areleft in the dark until the seeds producewhite grass shoots. Once fully grown,they are used to decorate the small stat-uette of Baby Jesus around the crib. Thistradition is still practiced today.

The existence of Christmas Cribs inMalta, which was another importfrom Sicily that mainly consisted ofstatuettes or figurines (pasturi) madefrom clay, Our Lady, St Joseph, andBaby Jesus together with the threewise men as the main characters in acrib, dates back to the early seven-teenth century when sizeable cribsused to be erected in local churches. Crib building in Malta is said to have

started in the first half of the 17th cen-tury. Although no documentationcould be found to prove it, it is knownthat as early as 1617 a crib used to beerected every Christmas at the Do-minican Conventuals Church inRabat. Maltese features began to re-place Italian ones and locals them-selves began to make these pasturi. A crib dating back to 1826 attributed

to the works of Fra Benedetto Papale,a Sicilian monk who lived in Maltaaround that time, can still be found inSt Peters Monastery in Mdina.

Towards the middle of the 19th cen-tury, Antonio Muscat Fenech fromQormi built a mechanical crib andopened for public viewing in his garage. The setting up of ‘il-Presepju’ soon be-

came an eagerly awaited tradition.Family households would decoratetheir balconies or main outer windowoverlooking the streets with a smallstatue of Baby Jesus locally made out

of wax, or with a miniature sized crib,‘presepju’ to hail the coming of Christ. As times changed these clay and wax

figures soon became costly figurinesThey sell out well during the festiveseason amongst the Maltese.

Another popular event is a chil-dren’s procession held on the eve ofChristmas a few hours before mid-night mass. They carry a small statueof Jesus around the town or villagestreets and sing Christmas carols.

This was the idea of St Gorg Preca,the founder of the Catholic DoctrineSociety (MUSEUM). The first proces-sion was held 1921.

A popular Maltese carol, 'ninni latibkix izjed' (sleep and cry no more)written by Fr. Andrew Schembri(1774-1862) from Luqa for Maltesemigrants in Tunisia is still most pop-ular during Christmas gatherings, bethat Christian or just social.

The popularity of the Crib in Maltakept flourishing until after the SecondWorld War, but then more ‘modern’Christmas customs and foreign tradi-tions started being imported into

Malta, mainly by British Servicemenwho were stationed on the island. Theyintroduced the Christmas tree, FatherChristmas, and flashy ornaments andfestive decorative lights that donnedthe main streets and furrow fairs ofmany localities across the island.

One tradition that makes Malteseunique is the Midnight Mass. It is re-garded as the most important of allthe Christmas celebrations. Manyfamilies still dress up in new festiveclothes to attend the mass where thehighlight is the ‘Priedka Tat-Tifel’, a

sermon ferven-tlydelivered by ayoung boy or girl.This sermon takesmonths of prepa-ration and islearnt by heart.

After mass peo-ple greet eachother with theChristmas saluta-tions of 'Il-MiliedIt-Tajjeb' or 'MerryChristmas’ andbide each otherfor the New Year.

The Maltese tra-ditional Christ-mas meal bringstogether wholefamilies.

Traditionally, ahome breedroaster ‘˙asi’, isreared purposely

for Christmas, stuffed and presentedalong with potatoes and vegetables.

Another sought after dish was ‘tim-pana’, (baked macaroni covered withcrusty pastry).

The traditional desert served atChristmas was the Treacle Ring,'Qag˙qa tal-G˙asel', and to finish it off,a hot Chestnut and Cocoa Soup, 'Im-buljuta tal-Qastan', which was and issometimes still served as a cozy night-cap during the cold December days inMalta.

During the years when the Britishwere stationed in Malta new ideasand recipes were introduced. They in-cluded the turkey and Christmas pud-ding. Along with cakes, pudding andmince pies are popular along with thepanettone and many other importeddelicacies from Italy and other foreigncountries. Christmas is a most awaited time by-

children. From weeks ahead schools inMalta start preparing for the Christ-mas concert involving many children.

*Continued on page 8

Christmas and the people’sTraditions in Malta Compiled by

JosephCutajar

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

onl ine magazineonl ine magazine

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

specifically targeting allMaltese living abroad with emphasis on the

Australian scene. is online magazine is

sent via email by request.Subscription is free.

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

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Trust in politics? Konslijiet fantaΩma

Greetings to all for the festive season

George Bugeja from Bossley Park NSWwrites:

The Nationalist Party in Malta has re-leased a document re “restored trust in

politics”. Amongst the many suggestions andunder the heading of democratic scrutinythey listed this gem: Allow Maltese citizensin other EU countries tovote in general elections in Malta throughdistance voting.

It is clear that the NP is only interested inextending the vote in general elections tothose living only in EU countries. This is notsurprising knowing how obsessive theirleader is with anything EU.This will definitely not restore trust neither

in politics nor in the NP for the thousands ofMaltese citizens living in Canada, America,NZ, Australia and all those countries, notpart of the biggest bureaucracy the world hasever known.

Malta must never put a distractive wedgebetween its citizens irrespective of wherethey reside. I challenge the PN to comeclean on this matter and explain to to us, notresiding within the parameters of the EUwhy we are of lesser value.

Chris Mercieca ex-Consul-General in NSW (2010-2014) writes:

Please extend my best wishes for the festive season to all the Maltese in NSW. Congrat-ulations on the continued success of the online magazine, The Voice of the Maltese that

you and your colleagues have been distributing. It has been a very professional effort and awell-balanced publication.

8 The Voice of the Maltese Tuesday December 22, 2015

Christmas Traditions*from page 7

The concerts mainly consist of Christ-mas Carols, Nativity plays, panto-mimes and poetry recitals.

Children, teachers and parents allenjoy this merriment involving thekids. Christmas parties, mainly cater-ed for by the parents and shared byeveryone in the class are also held ineach class. It is also the time for giving and gifts

are exchanged between families andfriends.

The day after Christmas in Malta, isreserved for the Community ChestFund, a charity foundation organisedby the office of the President that col-lects funds in order to distribute andhelp alleviate the financial burdens ofthose needing medical care particu-larly cancer victims (but not only)who specialised treatment abroad.Yes, Christmas in Malta IS SPECIAL!

Vince Borg, minn Brisbane Qld. jikteb:

Kont qrajt fuq The Voice of the Maltese likien hemm ˙sieb li se jsir xi taqlib fejn

jid˙lu l-Konsli Onorarji Maltin fl-Awstralja.Kien hawn ˙afna diçeriji li se jin˙atru Kon-slijiet Onorarji fi Brisbane, Western Aus-tralia u bnadi o˙ra.

Veru li l-maggoranza tal-Maltin fl-Aw-stralja ftit jafu fejn huma, kif jikkunta-jawhom, eçç, g˙ax ftit ji©u ppublikati dettaljidwar fejn huma. G˙andna ge©wi©ija ta’ Kon-slijiet Onorarji fejn m’hemmx posthomimbag˙ad f’postijiet o˙ra hemm vojt.

L-Awstralja hija pajjiΩ kbir u allurajin˙tie©u aktar ghajnuna minn f’pajjiΩi o˙rafejn hemm emigranti Maltin. Mhix bissperçezzjoni li l-Maltin ftit li xejn huma mo-qdija jew jafu dwar x’g˙andhom jag˙mlu.Meta se jsir xi ˙a©a g˙ax donnu li veru lililna tal-Awstralja anke dan il-Gvern insina.

Tuesday December 22, 2015 The Voice of the Maltese 9

Joe Cordina who died on December 1. CordinaFarms staff lined Mandoon Road Girraween NSW tofarewell the much-loved entrepreneur. During thegreat depression of 1930 Joe’s father Rosario estab-lished a small farm, and in 1945, Joe established Cor-dina Farms (Cordina Chickens) in Girraween, thatbecame one of the top 100 family-owned firms in Aus-tralia.

In time he became known as one of the father of theAustralian poultry industry, and Cordina Chickens em-ployed thousands of Maltese workers. His business,

now run bygranddaughterLouise is in itsfourth generation. Joe Cordina was

alsowell regard-ed in the harnessracing industry as a breeder and race sponsor. He is survived by Tess, his wife of 67 years, four chil-

dren and a number of grandchildren and great grand-children.

They will be missed!

Charles Orland (below) fromGreystanes NSW born in Zejtun,Malta, died at age 91 on December12. He arrived Australia accompa-nied by his wifeAgnes in 1954.Both were veryactive in the Mal-tese community. Charles was

treasurer of LaValette SocialCentre andmember of thebuilding sub-committe. He

was also a committee member ofthe Ghaqda Kulturali and partici-pated in various choirs. Charles, loving husband of Agnes

(dec) and fa-ther of Joseph,Mary (dec),Charles Jnrand Margaret.- was regardedas an artisticgenius in fret-work andstone carvingand in 1992 hewon first prizein fretwork atthe SydneyRoyal EasterShow. He alsoreceived theQuiet Achiev-ers Award in2001.

During the past few weeks the Maltese community inNSW has lost three more prominent members. We re-

member with sadness the death of:

RIP

Emanuel Mifsud (above) from Blacktown NSW diedon November 30. He was born in Naxxar 79 years ago.Husband of Mary and devoted father of Josephine andJohn and nannu to his grandchildren. Emanuel was very involved with our Lady Queen of Peace

Band, the choir of La Valette SC and member of the MaltesePast Pupils & Friends of Don Bosco. In 2006 Emanuel andhis wife Mary received the Quite Achievers Award.

Fit-12 ta' Diçembru li g˙addat˙abbar li ntla˙aq ftehim im-portanti bejn il-pajjiΩi tal-Ìnus

Mag˙quda fuq x'g˙andu jsir dwar it-tibdil tal-klima kkawΩat minn sorsiantropo©eniçi (ji©ifieri ©ejjin mill-bniedem).1

Dan il-ftehim g˙andu dawn il-karat-teristiçi ewlenin:

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

kitba ta’

IVAN

CAUCHI

10 The Voice of the Maltese Tuesday December 22, 2015

* li l-pajjiΩi jiddeterminaw il-miri tag˙hom infushom dwarkemm lesti jnaqqsu mir-rimi ta'gassijiet li jikkontribwixxu g˙at-tibdil tal-klima;* iridu jirrappurtaw kemm dawn

il-miri qed nitla˙qu b'modtrasparenti, g˙alkemm m'hemmxsanzjonijiet jekk dawn majintla˙qux;

* il-miri jridu ji©u riveduti kull˙ames snin, bl-iskop li l-ambiz-zjoni tag˙hom tiΩdied; * il-pajjiΩi Ωviluppati jikkontribwixxu $100 biljun fis-sena

biex jg˙inu l-pajjiΩi mhux Ωviluppati, li ˙afna drabi humadawk li l-iktar se j˙ossu l-effetti tat-tibdil fil-klima;

* li l-Ωieda fit-temperatura sal-a˙˙ar ta' dan is-seklu(2100) g˙andha tkun limitata g˙al ˙afna inqas minn 2C(Ωew© gradi Çentigradi), g˙ax din iΩ-Ωieda hija kkunsidratariskjuΩa wisq u li tista' twassal g˙al pajjiΩi baxxi jisparixxuta˙t il-mew©, u li jippruvaw jil˙qu l-mira ta' 1.5C.

Huwa aççettat li l-miri ppubblikati s'issa mill-pajjiΩi, mhumiexse jwasslu g˙al Ωieda fit-temperatura ta' 2C, a˙seb u ara ta' 1.5C.G˙alhekk kien hemm id-deçiΩjoni li l-miri ta' kull pajjiΩ g˙and-hom ji©u riveduti kull ˙ames snin. Dan bla dubju se jwassal g˙alpressjoni fuq kull pajjiΩ biex iΩid l-ambizzjoni tieg˙u.Huwa aççettat ukoll li l-pajjiΩi mhumiex legalment marbutin

li jil˙qu l-miri tag˙hom, g˙alkemm huma legalment marbutinli jkollhom mira. Madankollu, huwa ma˙sub li se jkun hemm biΩΩejjed skruti-

nju minn pajjiΩi o˙ra li ma jippermettix lil xi pajjiΩ jit˙ajjarsempliçement jg˙id ˙a©a u jag˙mel o˙ra.

B˙ala çittadin Awstraljan, kien ta' pjaçir ninnota lill-pajjiΩadottiv tieg˙i jing˙aqad ma' grupp ta' 100 pajjiΩ ie˙or, hekkimsejja˙ 'Koalizzjoni tal-Ambizzjoni' g˙ax kienu qed jirreΩistuli l-ftehim ikun inqas ambizzjuΩ milli seta' kien. Din il-˙a©ax’aktarx ma kinetx isse˙˙ li kieku l-Prim Ministru Awstraljankien g˙adu Tony Abbott. Rajt ukoll li l-Kanada wkolling˙aqdet ma' dan il-grupp, anke din x’aktarx ma kinetx isse˙˙li kieku l-Prim Ministru ma nbidilx.2

Tassew, fil-qasam tal-politika Awstraljana fuq it-tibdil tal-klima,se˙˙et bidla s˙i˙a malli sar Prim Ministru Malcolm Turnbull.Ta˙t Tony Abbott, il-gvern kien dejjem jg˙id li qed jie˙u passi

sinjifikanti u responsabbli fil-©lieda kontra t-tibdil tal-klima,filwaqt li g˙amel minn kollox biex jag˙mel il-bsaten fir-rotilill-industrija l-©dida tal-ener©ija sostenibbli.

Ta˙t Malcolm Turnbull l-oppost qed ji©ri. Il-gvern qieg˙ed

bil-kwiet ine˙˙i dawn il-bsaten fir-roti wa˙da wa˙da uming˙ajr ˙afna daqq ta' trombi, filwaqt li jg˙id li mhu qed jib-del ftit li xejn mill-politika tal-gvern ta' qablu. Milli nista'nifhem, qed jag˙mel dan tal-a˙˙ar biex iΩomm mag˙quda l-koalizzjoni Liberali-Nazzjonali li tinkludi fiha diversi membrixettiçi dwar it-tibdil tal-klima.Paradossalment, aktar ma' Turnbull jikkonvinçi lil ta' madwaru

li fil-prattika mhu qed jinbidel ftit li xejn, aktar jesponi ru˙ug˙all-attakki tal-Partit Laburista, li dan li jridu jisimg˙u ˙allijpin©u lil Turnbull b˙ala xejn differenti minn Abbott.

Irrid ng˙id li l-Partit Laburista Federali g˙andu bΩonnkwalunkwe munizzjon, g˙ax s'issa jidher li, jekk il-popolarita`ta' Turnbull tibqa’ mhux mittiefsa kif inhi issa,3 fl-elezzjoni tas-sena d-die˙la l-Partit Laburista qed i˙ares lejn disfatta kbira.L-a˙˙ar kelma dwar il-ftehim ta' Pari©i - b˙ala wie˙ed li jem-

men li g˙andna n˙allu lid-dinja a˙jar milli sibniha g˙al uliednau wlied uliedna, ma nistax ˙lief nifra˙ li ntla˙aq dan il-ftehim,li però jista' jkun biss il-bidu ta' ˙idma sfiqa li hemm bΩonn issirmad-dinja kollha.

Fil-fatt, baqa' ˙afna ftehimiet o˙rajn li jridu jintla˙qu fil-futur,biex il-bniedem u n-natura jevitaw l-konsegwenzi l-aktar serji ta'˙ruq bla raΩan ta' sorsi ffossilizzati tal-ener©ija u ta' foresti antiki.Pass wara pass!

Referenzi

1. UN Framework Convention on Climate Change; Conference of the Parties, 21stSession FCCC/CP/2015/L.9/Rev.1, 12 December 20152. http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/breaking-news/australia-joins-paris-cli-mate-coalition/story-fni0xqlk-1227642659074, retrieved 14/12/20153. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/newspoll, retrieved 14/12/2015

Il-Ftehim ta' Pari©idwar it-Tibdil tal-Klima

Christiana Figueres, il-kap tal-Ìnus Mag˙quda dwar il-bdilfil-klima, is-Segretarju Ìenerali tal-UN Ban Ki-Moon, il-Min-istru tal-Affarijiet Barranin FrançiΩ Laurent Fabius u l-Presi-dent FrançiΩ François Hollande jifir˙u g˙ad-deçiΩjoni f’Pari©i

Tuesday December 22, 2015 The Voice of the Maltese 11

An Australian from Canberra,David Richards – known lo-cally as ‘Christmas Lights

Man’ - has orchestrated the world’slargest display of Christmas lights onan artificial 22-mtre tree with518,838 individual lights to earnhimself a spot in the record books.The display, that is programmed to

music and changes colour, was offi-cially switched in the evening of Fri-day November 27 in the presence ofjolly locals and an official GuinnessWorld Records Adjudicator who wason hand to confirm the new worldrecord. The Christmas tree that wasrefurbished with 1.6 kilometres offake green fir from China anddressed with giant baubles and flash-ing presents, is decorated withbaubles, flashing presents and istopped by a 1.5-metre star contain-ing 12,000 bulbs.

Under the leadership of Richards adisplay of this kind was no overnight

job. It is an enormous undertaking involving architects,electrical and civil engineers, designers, and an army ofSIDS and Kids ACT volunteers. The number of lights,518,838, was more than enough to beat the previousrecord of 374,280 by Universal Studios Japan in Osaka amonth earlier, in October, on a 36-metre tall artificial tree.Universal Studios had in fact won the record for hanging364,200 bulbs on a tree for five consecutive years. The display also included an ice castle, night markets and

a 73-metre tunnel of lights showcasing the 12 days ofChristmas.David Richards, a father of three is no stranger to Christ-

mas related records. He previously set the Guinness WorldRecords titles for the “Largest image made of LED lights”and “Most Christmas lights on a residential property”.

He and his wife Janean sadly lost their son aged just onemonth old in 2002 and have been fond supporters of the Can-berra-based charity SIDS and Kids ACT that is dedicated toeliminating sudden and unexpected death in children fromconception onwards and providing programs and services.

They have raised hundreds of thousands of dollarsthrough various fundraisers and his record attempts arekey to helping conjure up local support for the charity andmuch needed funds. “For a little charity to come out of nowhere and beat the

previous record is extraordinary - Canberra has taken theworld record away from a major theme park in Japan! Thishas been an enormous undertaking involving architects,electrical and civil engineers, designers, and an army ofSIDS and Kids ACT volunteers all donating their time andgoods and services,” says Richards.He went on to say that ever since their tragic loss in 2002,

SIDS and Kids ACT had been an organisation close to theirhearts. “We want to support them so they can continue toprovide bereavement services to Canberra and the sur-rounding community.” David Richards said the project was a labour of love, but

juggling the set-up along with work commitments thisyear had proved a challenge.

"Silly things like, I was on top of the merry-go-round in a hard hat and high-vies, and I've for-gotten about a court appearance and had bein court... it was very unnerving because Idon't like being late for anything," he said.

He said he was keen to keep the event run-ning in future years, but he hoped to take astep back from managing it.

"It's got too big, and now it's a project thatshould be sustainable... it needs a projectmanager. A bit like Floriade has a smallteam of people looking after it," he said.

David and his wife have already raisedmore than $600,000 for the charity overthe years. They are hoping this year's dis-play will raise a further $350,000.

SIDS and Kids ACT chief executive LisaRidgley said that their organisation wastruly grateful for all David does. “We’vebeen working on this since January; it’sbeen fantastic watching it all come to-gether. Christmas Lights in the Citywould not have been possible withoutthe contribution from David, local busi-nesses and the Canberra community. It is an incredibleway to she said. Lisa.

Christmas Lights in the City is SIDS and Kids ACT'sbiggest fundraiser of the year. Last year it broke the worldrecord for the largest LED display and raised more than$200,000.

Meanwhile, a delighted Guinness World Records Editorin-Chief, Craig Glenday, said: “Everyone here at GuinnessWorld Records looks forward to this time of year like mostand David Richards continues to amaze us with his incred-ible Christmas displays. This is an amazing new recordand it’s no mean feat decorating a tree with over 500,000lights - do bear a thought too for our adjudicator who hadto count each and every light!”

The lights will remain up until New Year's Eve.

Largest display of Christmas lightson an artificial tree is in Canberra

David Richards (third from left)with his family and SIDS and KidsACT CEO Lisa Ridgley (third right)

Addressing the nation on the occasion ofthe 41st Anniversary of Republic Dayinvestiture ceremony, President Marie

Louise Coleiro Preca said that the conflictsand recent acts of terrorism lead one to under-stand even more clearly that Malta’s vocation,as a nation that cherishes and treasures peace,“should go on determining the work that wedo for our people, for the nations around us,and for the whole of humanity.”

She went on to say that on the other hand,“our own safety and security should remainimportant priorities, high on our nationalagenda, ” and appealed to the political leaders,and to all the people of Malta, to unite and notwaste time in unnecessary bickering, that di-vides them, and which make them susceptiblewhen faced by events and situations that re-quire our resilience.

The President outlined a number of otherthemes affecting the Maltese society, andspoke about the need for a change in the be-haviour of politicians.

The President also reflected on a number ofthemes that have dominated this year, whichhas been an eventful one with its fair share ofexperiences that were completely unexpectedand that closely affect us as a nation. Some ofthem, she said, “gave us great satisfaction,”but others “saddened us”.

“It has truly been a year filled with a kalei-doscope of events. These twelve months haveseen us, as a people strive through the highsand lows of everyday life. “While the main platform for our actions has

been our country, the two international eventsheld here in the past weeks have reminded us,that our vocation as an oasis of peace, and asan intercultural bridge in the centre of theMediterranean, is not merely a set of meta-phors expressed exclusively within the localcontext.”She said that there was an urgent need for pol-

itics to recover its prestige as during the yearthere had been instances when the country’shighest institution had been further eroded. She confessed that working closely with thou-

sands of people of goodwill, gave her great sat-isfaction. “It has provided me with the courageto go on with my ambitious programme aimedat bringing together diverse groups of peopleworking in areas ranging from research, con-ferences and speeches to community work,philanthropy, and projects aimed at promotingsolidarity and empowerment.“For me, this year has been a journey of love

that focused on what is essential in life, ratherthan on what is frivolous and superficial.” She said the Maltese people themselves had

persuaded her, through their own words andexperiences, that the Presidency should bemuch more than parades, laying of bouquetsand wreaths, and ceremonial speeches. About equality, the President said that Euro-

pean indicators show that Maltese women arestill to be found at the periphery in areas ofimportant decision-making. “We need to ad-

dress this social injustice and this democraticdeficit with more energy and more haste.” On education, she appealed to adults to give

heed to the upcoming generation.The President said that in Malta, almost six

percent of the gross domestic product is spenton education, yet in spite of the many efforts,throughout the years, the results in educationdo not yet reflect the efforts and financial in-vestment of both past and present years.Acknowledging the “outstanding work being

done, by thousands of workers in this field, shesaid that there are still too many children,young people and adults who do not view ed-ucation and training as an integral part of life.

She appealed to all those who work in thesocial field to make assertive and holistic ef-forts, together with schools, with families and

with the community, to break the intergener-ational cycles of dependence, apathy towardslife, fatalism, inferiority complex and low as-pirations.When it comes to children and young people,

the President said they have a right, and needto be heard, and that it is our duty to listen tothem, to examine carefully what they say andto act accordingly. She stressed the need forthe country to develop the necessary struc-tures to give this right to the children andyoung people, not occasionally, but regularly,as part of the decision-making process.

As for poverty, the President said that thiswas still knocking at the door of Maltese so-ciety, and therefore appealed for tools to bedeveloped for the measurement of socialwealth.

Roundup of News About Malta

12 The Voice of the Maltese Tuesday December 22, 2015

“Malta’s vocation as an oasis of peace is not merely a set of metaphors”

AX Holdings is investing €53 million in two projects that areintended to serve the nation in two very important sectors.

The first is a retirement village, Hilltop Gardens that was com-pleted in 18 months at a cost of €43 million that and has justbeen inaugurated by Prime Minister Joseph Muscat in Naxxar.The other is a €10 million investment in an underwater tunnelin the sea beneath Valletta that would connect the Sliema water-front and Cottonera by boat.Hilltop Gardens, a state of the art retirement village, comprises

133 luxurious apartments and penthouses, spread over 17,000square metres was inaugurated by Prime Minister Joseph Mus-cat. The complex that has been built on a site previously occupied

by a derelict concrete factory is also equipped with a vast rangeof amenities that include a spa, fitness centre, library, chapel,games room, indoor and outdoor pools, a convenience store, barand restaurant, and a children’s recreation centre. AX Holdings chairman and CEO Angelo Xuereb said that the

facility would house people of a certain age who could live in-dependently, but under constant supervision.At the inauguration, the Prime Minister welcomed the invest-

ment from the private sector but noted that the government wasalso bound to provide facilities for those who could not affordto be admitted to private homes.At the presentation of his other project, Mr Xuereb said that as

a result of concessions of public land which he is being givenby government and with the assistance of AIG experts, his com-pany has joined forces with the company currently operating theferry service between Sliema and Marsamxett in Valletta and isprojecting that carrying some 1.5 million passengers in the firstthree years. He said he hoped the project would be ready byJune 2017. The entrances to the tunnels would be close to the landing stage

of the existing service near the Valletta waterpolo pitch and nearTa’ Liese close to the Upper Barracca. When completed, the tripbetween Sliema and Cottonera is projected to take around 18minutes.

Statistic issued by Eurostaton International Migrants’Day shows that at the last

count, on January 1, 2014, for-eign nationals accounted for5.9% of the total population ofMalta, which at the time num-bered 425,384. Most of them,54%, came from EU countries.African migrants living on theisland formed one of the small-est communities, just 2.7%.

According to statistics, thelargest part of Malta’s foreigncommunity of residents, over6,600, were British nationals.There were also 1,000 Somalis– who in the main enjoy inter-national protection under theGeneva Convention and Mal-tese laws. Other main foreigncommunities in Malta are Ital-ian, Bulgarian, and German.

Resident population in Malta,by broad group of citizenship ason January 1, 2014 shows thatthe total resident population was425,384. There were 94.1% na-tionals, and 5.9% foreign citi-zens (of which 3.2% were EUnationals, and 2.7% non-EU na-tionals).

The latest data showed thatoverall, total EU populationstood at 506.8 million residents,31.4 million of which were for-eign citizens, 19.8 million beingnon-EU citizens.

Luxembourg had the highestproportion of foreign citizens inthe EU, 45.3%, where almosthalf of the population did nothave Luxembourgish citizen-ship. The largest migrant popu-lation was made up of Italian

and Portuguese.Seven EU countries registered

shares above 10%. They were,Cyprus (19.5%), Latvia (15.2%),Estonia (14.9%), Austria(12.5%), Ireland (11.8%), Bel-gium (11.3%) and Spain(10.1%). Those with the lowestforeign population, below 1%,were Poland (0.3%), Romania(0.4%), Croatia, Lithuania andBulgaria (0.8%).

In total, at the time under re-view, foreign citizens made up6.7% of the resident populationof the EU Member States.In 13 states, there were clearly

more non-EU citizens than EUcitizens in the foreign popula-tion, while in ten the situationwas more balanced, with be-tween 40% and 60% of bothnon-EU and EU citizens. Bel-gium, Ireland, Cyprus, Luxem-bourg and Slovakia were theonly five member states wherethere were clearly fewer citizensof non-EU countries than citi-zens of another member state.

The same statistic shows thatdiversity prevails with around 50different nationalities among thetop five in EU Member States. For EU citizens residing in an-

other Member State, Polish cit-izens were registered among thefive main citizenships of for-eigners in 10 Member States,Germans in nine and Italiansand Romanians in eight each.For non-EU citizens, Ukrainianswere among the five main citi-zenships of foreigners in nineMember States, Turks and Rus-sians in 7 each.

Foreign nationals account for Foreign nationals account for 5.9% of Malta’s population 5.9% of Malta’s population

Roundup of News About Malta

Maltese entrepreneur invests in two projects worth €53m

Ten-year-old Karl Curmi ofVictoria who was awardedthe Midalja ghall-Qlubija bythe President for rescuinga 20-month-old baby whowas drowning at Il-Menqain Marsalform in July.

Tuesday December 22, 2015 The Voice of the Maltese 13

SUNNY’S

CONFECTIONERY

The Maltese Confectionery Specialist

Wishes its clients a

MERRY CHRISTMASand HAPPY NEW YEAR

Please phone: (02) 9671 1863

Asurvey carried out by the Malta Hotels and RestaurantsAssociation (MHRA) once again has shown that 2015

was an excellent year for the tourism industry in Malta. Thefact was emphasised by the association’s president TonyZahra at the presentation of the third-quarter statistics on hotelaccommodation by BOV and Deloitte. During the discussion that followed the presentation, he in-

sisted however, that unlicensed accommodation was on theincrease. He also insisted that the excellent results - the fifth year in a

row to blast record arrivals - are the fruit of continuous closecooperation between all stakeholders. He added it was re-markable under any circumstances but more so given the tur-moil being experienced in the region. He augured the trendwould continue into 2016. Speakers noted that the effort of the tourism industry to mar-

ket the destination in the low season has contributed to ahigher growth in occupancy.

2015 Excellent year for tourism

Laqatni dan il-passa©© mill-mes-sa©© tal-President

ta’ Malta, Marie LouiseColeiro Preca fl-okka-Ωjoni ta’ Jum ir-Reppub-lika:

“Sikwit nisimg˙u l-g˙ajta li fl-g˙aqda hemmis-sa˙˙a. Ma nistg˙uxnibnu flimkien Repubb-lika b’sa˙˙itha jekk,b˙ala çittadini, ma nir-rikonoxxux li l-vjolenzaverbali f’pajjiΩna qieg˙dadejjem tiΩdied. Metag˙amilna l-mikrofonu u l-internet aktar aççessibbli, ˙sibna li d-demokrazija kienet se tissa˙˙a˙.“ Jidher çar iΩda, li d-defiçit edukattiv fl-uΩu etiku tal-mezzi ta’ komunikazzjoni soçjali

qieg˙ed iwassalna biex inkissru aktar milli nibnu din is-soçjetà.“ B’umiltà nistaqsi jekk wasalniex f’punt li t-tg˙ajjir u l-aggressjoni verbali sarux tant

normalizzati li ma nafux ˙ajja different ming˙ajrhom. Jekk is-suspett tieg˙i huwa fatt,nibda nifhem g˙alfejn g˙add ta’ nies validi qeg˙din ja˙arbu l-˙ajja pubblika.

“Nifhem li ftit huma dawk li lesti ji©u mg˙ajra g˙al dak kollu li jag˙mlu u jistqarru.Sadanittant, se tkun ir-Repubblika tag˙na li se t˙allas bl-img˙ax g˙ad-deterjoramentinkwetanti fil-mod kif nitkellmu ma’ xulxin.”

Min jaqra l-©urnali Maltin, l-aktar minn fuq l-Internett u jsegwi l-kummenti li jkunhemm, Ωgur jag˙ti ra©un lill-President ta’ Malta. Il-mod baxx li fih jaqg˙u çerti kum-mentaturi g˙andu j˙ammar wiçç min jag˙milhom. Id-drawwa ta’ x’u˙ud li minflok majattakkaw u jikkritikaw il-kumment li jsir, jispiççaw biex jattakkaw personalment lilmin jiktibhom jistg˙u jitqiesu b˙ala vjolenza verbali.

U dan mhux limitat biss g˙all-midja miktuba iΩda anke kultant g˙ar-radju u t-tele-viΩjoni,u aktar u aktar fuq il-midja soçjali.Na˙seb li wasal iΩ-Ωmien li nedukaw aktar lill-poplu kif jista’ jiddiskuti, kif jista’ jar-

gumenta ming˙ajr ma naqg˙u fil-baxx. Forsi l-ewwel pass biex isir dan irid isir mill-midja nnifisha billi, filwaqt li t˙alli l-liberta` tal-klema, tiΩgura li çerti kummenti majsirux.Nemmen li dan jista’ jsir speçjalment fejn jid˙lu kummenti li qed jidhru fuq il-gazetti

eletronnçi. Na˙seb g˙alhekk li wasal iΩ-Ωmien li min imexxi l-©urnali eletroniçi jkunaktar sensittiv u jiççensura çerti kitbiet ta’ livell baxx, ta’ tg˙ajjir u allegazzjonijiet blabaΩi. Fuq kollox xi ©urnali di©a` jiççensuraw kitbiet li ma jaqblux mal-linja editorjalitag˙hom.

(Aktar dwar dak li qalet il-President fl-indirizz tag˙ha f’pa©na 12)

G˙alkemm belt tassew Ωg˙ira metamqabbla ma’ bliet o˙ra tad-dinja, jew

fl-Ewropa, imma l-belt il-qadima ta’Malta, l-Imdina hija post tassew popolarimat-turisti. Fil-fatt ma jg˙addix jimqar jum wie˙ed li

ma tarax g˙add kbir ta’ turisti g˙addejjinmal-ftit toroq dojoq li hemm f’din il-beltstorika jammiraw il-palazzi f’kull triq.

Hija belt li mimlija storja ma’ kull fejntimxi u kul˙add jie˙u interess iΩurha.

Kemm hi tassew popolari din il-Belt jid-her mill-fatt li matul is-sena li g˙addietmadwar 1.7miljun persuna mxew mat-toroq ta’ din il-lokalita` jammiraw post lijaf il-bidu tieg˙u lill-era G˙arbija f’Malta.

Waqt il-programm Times Talk li jitmexxaminn Ωew© ©urnalisti tal-gazzetta’ The

Times ta’ Malta, fuq it-televiΩjoni (TVM), l-Arçisqof Mons Charles Scicluna qal:“I willnot shut up. I will not keep my mouth shut asa result of these intimidations… “I will notbe confined to the sacristy,”

Sintendi, dawn il-fraΩijiet qajmu polemikas˙i˙a fil-midja Maltija.

L-ewwelnet kien hemm min staqsa: “Minirid jag˙laq ˙alq l-Arçisqof?” Ûgur li fiΩ-Ωminijiet tal-lum m’hemmx xi Awtorita’ lise tipprova tag˙laqlu ˙alqu. IΩda jidher liMons Scicluna kien qed jirreferi g˙al çertakritika li dehret fil-midja lokali meta tkellemdwar çerti materji li b’xi mod kien hemmrabta’ politika mag˙hom. B˙al, per eΩempju, meta g˙amel tweet dwar

il-bini tal-Universita` Amerikana f’Wied il-G˙ajn. Jew meta, waqt li kien qed jindirizzalill-istudenti li ggradwaw, ikkummenta dwarix-xog˙ol fuq id-dwal fuq il-faççata ta’Kastilja. Kienu kummenti li sa wasslu lill-eks-kandidat Nazzjonalista, Jeffrey PullicinoOrlando, jfisser lill-Arçisqof b˙ala viçi-kaptal-Partit Nazzjonalista. L-Arçisqof stqarr çaru tond li dawn l-intimidazzjonijiet ma kienuxse jag˙lqulu ˙alqu.Kien hemm min insista li fid-diskorsi tieg˙u

l-Arçisqof kellu jillimita’ ru˙u g˙al dak likellu x’jaqsam mar-reli©jon, mal-Knisja u l-kleru. IΩda hu ma qabilx ma’ dawn, g˙alhekkstqarr li hu ma kienx lest li jibqa’ fis-sagris-tija, iΩda li jrid juri l-fehma tieg˙u dwar˙wejje© li jeffetwaw lill-poplu.

Naqbel li g˙andu kull dritt juri fehmtumhux biss g˙ax hu wkoll çittadin Malti ub˙al kull çittadin g˙andu l-jedd g˙al-liberta`tal-kelma, iΩda wkoll g˙ax hu mexxej tal-akbar “g˙aqda” li g˙andna fil-gΩejjer tag˙nau b˙ala tali g˙andu d-dritt u d-dmir li “jin-dokra l-mer˙la tieg˙u.”

Biss dan id-dritt ipo©©i lill-Arçisqoff’poΩizzjoni diffiçli aktar u aktar meta g˙adhawn g˙add konsiderevoli ta’ r©iel u nisa lig˙adhom jiftakru sew is-sittinijiet – snin ta’nkwiet serju politiku reli©juΩ – snin fejn˙afna ˙assew li çerti membri tal-Knisjalokali nda˙˙lu wisq fil-politika.

Din l-Arçisqof jafha sew tant li f’din id-diskussjoni qal çar u tond li hu ma riedx lijer©a jmur g˙al dawk iΩ-Ωminijiet, anzi nsistali huma dawk li jikkritkawh, billi jsemmu s-snin sittin, li fil-fatt jridu jie˙du l-pajjiΩ lejndawk iΩ-Ωminijiet. Mons Scicluna nsista li dawk il-kummenti,

li xi w˙ud iqisuhom ‘politiçi’ jag˙milhomg˙all-©id kommuni.Nemmen li dan huwa veru, iΩda sfortunata-

ment dawn il-kummenti qed jintuΩaw minnpartit politiku biex jikkritika l-partit l-ie˙oru huwa hawnhekk li mbag˙ad il-kummentital-Arçisqof jibdew jitqiesu minn xi w˙udb˙ala nd˙il politiku.

“Mhux sejag˙lquli˙alqi!!”

Il-popolarita`tal-Imdina

14 The Voice of the Maltese Tuesday December 22, 2015

L e o ’s Ve h i cl eL e o ’s Ve h i cl e

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Guaranteed cheapest ratesAll vehicles in NRMA

road ServiceLow holding Deposit

Discount for weekly rentalsShuttle service to the Airport

Phone: 9622 2208 Mob: 0418 405 271

102 Kildare Rd Blacktown NSW 2148

G˙andha mitt ra©un

Il-President ta’ Malta tispezjona l-gwardja tal-unurwaqt iç-çelebrazzjonijiet ta’ Jum ir-Repubblika

M’inix ng˙id g˙all-maratona ta’ ©bir ta’ fondi. Dawk sarumiΩ-Ωew© partiti politiçi u kienu ta’ suççess kbir (sintendi

g˙aΩ-Ωew© partiti) billi fi ftit sieg˙at irnexxielhom bejniethomji©bru aktar minn miljun Ewro. Din id-darba l-Partit Laburistamar a˙jar minn dak Nazzjonalista billi ©abar ftit aktar minn€560,000. Dak Nazzjonalista ©abar ftit aktar minn €510,000.

Qed nirreferi g˙al maratona o˙ra, li did-darba da˙lu g˙alihad-deputati Laburisti u Nazzjonalisti, u indipendenti (li issag˙andna tnejn) – maratona ta’ sieg˙at ta’ tlablib u diskussjonidwar l-imbierka hekk imsejj˙a Universita` Amerikana.

G˙ax id-diskussjoni fil-Parlament fuq l-g˙oti b’çens ta’ partimill-eks-Tarzna f’Bormla u parti mill-art fil-ponta taΩ-Ûonqorf’Wied il-G˙ajn lil kumpanija li se twaqqaf din l-Universita`bdiet it-Tlieta filg˙axija u spiççat l-Erbg˙a filg˙odu - maratonata’ 15-il sieg˙a.

Meta spiççat id-diskussjoni kien hemm punt fejn kien hemmil-possibilta’ li fuq kollox id-diskussjoni kienet se tispiçça fix-xejn g˙ax il-Kap tal-OppoΩizzjoni talab ruling mill-Ispeaker

dwar jekk fuq kollox setax jittie˙ed votdwar riΩoluzzjoni li l-˙in kollu ssemmi Uni-versita`, meta l-Gvern kien qed jg˙id li fuqkollox s’issa l-applikazzjoni ma kienetxg˙al universita` imma g˙al istituzzjoni ta'edukazzjoni og˙la.L-Ispeaker sostna li l-votazzjoni setg˙et issir

... u fil-fatt saret u ntreb˙et min-na˙a tal-Gvern biex hekk, issa tal-inqas id-deçiΩjonidwar fejn se ssir din l-istituzzjoni edukattivattie˙det u l-pro©ett jista’ jimxi ‘l quddiemmalli jinksbu l-permessi me˙tie©a. Imma mana˙sibx li dan hu t-tmiem tal-polemika dwaris-sitt ta’ din l-Istituzzjoni u dwar l-istituz-zjoni nnifisha.

Mix-xena tal-˙ajja Maltija 2

L-organizzar ta’ konferenzi internaz-zjonali jiswew il-flus u kultant id-d˙ul dirett minn dawn

il-konferenzi ma jikkomparax man-nefqali tkun saret.

IΩ-Ωew© konferenzi li Malta organizzat xi ©img˙at ilu – il-Val-letta Summit u dik taç-CHOGM – swew lill-kaxxa ta’ Malta bejn10 u 12-il miljun Ewro. Minkejja li g˙add konsiderevoli ta’ nies,fosthom ©urnalisti, ©ew Malta matul dawk iΩ-Ωew© konferenzi,Ωgur li dawn ma ˙allewx warajhom dawk il-flus kollha li ntefqu.

Biss xorta wa˙da Malta marret tajjeb ˙afna min˙abba li barrad˙ul dirett hemm ukoll d˙ul indirett.

Rapport tal-kumpanija, mag˙rufa internazzjonalment, M&CSaatchi temmen li permezz ta’ dawn iΩ-Ωew© konferenzi Maltang˙atat pubbliçit` tant kbira li kieku l-Gvern kellu j˙allas g˙alihakienet ti©ih madwar €550 miljun.

Il-kumpanija evalwat kull rapport, inkluΩi dawk ta’ kritika, lixxandru onlajn bejn l-1 ta’ Novembru u s-6 ta’ Diçembru li

g˙addew fejn issemma xi wie˙ed mis-summits. IbbaΩat fuq il-popolarità tal-midja li ppubblikatu - g˙add totali

ta’ 19,341 rapport - kellhom il-potenzjal li jil˙qu udjenza ta’ 45.8biljun “persuna”.

L-isem ta’ Malta gawda attenzjoni b’valur akbar meta l-avven-imenti ©ew irrappurtati fuq mezzi ta’ komunikazzjonib’sa˙˙ithom b˙all-gazzetta popolari IngliΩa The Guardian, SkyNews u l-BBC World fir-Renju Unit u n-New York Times u s-Sun Herald fl-Istati Uniti tal-Amerika sar-RAI fl-Italja u l-ABCfl-Awstralja, fost ˙afna o˙rajn mifruxin mal-erbat irkejjen tal-globu.

Fost dawn kien hemm ukoll pajjiΩi li l-awtoritajiet Maltin qattma jo˙olmu li jirreklamaw fihom biex i˙ajjru t-turisti ji©u hawn,b˙all-Indja, il-Malasja, il-Pakistan, Sri Lanka u n-Ni©erja.

Maratona!

Tassew morna tajjeb!

Niffrankaw u Nissa˙˙u Skont rapport ta’ Dr George

Debono g˙at-Today PublicPolicy Institute jekk il-Maltinjibdlu l-istil ta' ˙ajja li jg˙ixu ujibdew jag˙mlu aktar eΩerçizzjufiΩiku filwaqt li jaddottaw dietatajba g˙as-sa˙˙a, is-servizz tas-sa˙˙a f'pajjiΩna jista' jiffrankabejn €40 miljun u €60 miljun fis-sena, €30 miljun minnhom fir-rig-ward tad-dimensja.

Sintendi jekk jiffranka l-pajjiΩniffrankaw a˙na wkoll g˙ax it-taxxi n˙allsuhom a˙na, minbarrasintendi li niffrankaw ukoll çertispejjeΩ li nonfqu fuq is-sa˙˙a,g˙ax mhux dejjem nirrikorrug˙as-servizzi tas-sa˙˙a pprovdutib’xejn, u mmorru fil-privat.

Ir-rapport isemmi li l-ispiΩa tas-settur tas-sa˙˙a g˙all-kura tad-di-jabete f'pajjiΩna hija ta' €65m.fis-sena. L-ispiΩa annwali g˙alproblemi relatati mal-˙xuna fl-

2008 kienet ta' €19.5m. iΩda sas-sena 2020 jekk ma tittie˙ed l-ebdaazzjoni, din mistennija titla' g˙albejn €27m. u €35m. L-ispiΩa an-nwali dwar id-dimensja hija ta'bejn €63-€96 miljun fis-sena.Óafna minn dan il-mard relatat

mal-fatt li l-Maltin huma “fost l-aktar nies ˙oxnin, g˙aΩΩenin udipendenti fuq il-karozzi”.

Li kien g˙ar-rapport, l-Awtori-tajiet g˙andhom jag˙mlu l-almutag˙hom biex inaqqsu l-uΩu tal-karozzi u jimitaw pajjiΩi o˙ra fejnqed jittie˙du miΩuri li jinkora©-©ixxu li jsir inqas uΩu ta' karozzi,minflok li jkomplu j˙e©©u l-uΩuakbar tal-karozzi b'miΩuri b˙all-˙olqien ta' aktar parke©©i. Sin-tendi dan ikun jaqbel ukoll biexit-traffiku jimxi a˙jar.

Min se jikkonvinçi lill-Maltinma juΩawx il-karozza privata uminflok juΩaw aktar saqajhom?

Dear Friends,

As the Federal Member for

Chifley, I would like to thank the

Maltese community for your

friendship. Wishing you all a very

Merry Christmas and happy

and prosperous 2016

Office: Shop 6, 16 Cleeve Close Mt Druit

Mail: P.O. Box 259 Mt Druitt NSW 2770

Website: http://www.edhusic.com/

Email: news@edhusic.com

Phone: (02) 9625 4344

Tuesday December 22, 2015 The Voice of the Maltese 15

AwguriIssa li rnexxielna ng˙addu s-sen’o˙ra flimkien, nixtieq nawguralill-qarrejja u l-familji tag˙homMilied ˙ieni u Sena Ìdida mimlijariΩq, hena, paçi u sa˙˙a.

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

1 111111

1 111111

1 111111

1 111111

Fr John Walshe, parish priest of Mentone in Melbourne, told the Royal Commissioninto Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse that he had lunch at Cardinal

Pell’s apartment in Rome in November and his upcoming appearance before the com-mission was “weighing” on the Cardinal.

Fr Walshe said Cardi-nal Pell told him that hewas trying his best toprepare for the upcom-ing hearing, where hewas to give evidence ofhis handling of childsexual abuse allegationsin Ballarat and Mel-bourne.

The Cardinal was ex-pected to be asked abouthis time as an adviser toformer Ballarat BishopRonald Mulkearns, on

the movements of priests in the diocese,such as convicted pedophile Gerald Rids-dale.“I couldn’t get over how poorly he looked

when I saw him last month,” he said.“He’d put on a lot of weight, he’s not mov-ing very well, and I just thought his gen-eral demeanor was very grey ... he wasvery ashen and grey.”

Cardinal Pell’s appearance at the com-mission has been deferred until February,after Chairman McClellan accepted med-ical evidence that it would be unsafe forhim to travel on a long-haul flight to Mel-bourne. Cardinal Pell has said the symptoms of along-standing heart condition had recentlyworsened.

A quick glimpse at AustraliaA quick glimpse at Australia

GoodbyeParis!

World Daypeace message

The Pope’s multifaceted message forWorld Peace Day, January 1, titled

Overcome Indifference and Win Peace,contained a three-fold appeal to theworld’s leaders.

Pope Francis has called for abolishingthe death penalty worldwide, lifting theburden of debt on poor nations, global aidpolicies that respect life and revampedlaws that welcome and integrate migrants,reports the Catholic News Service .Pope Francis called on national govern-

ments to review their current laws on im-migration and find ways they could“reflect a readiness to welcome migrantsand to facilitate their integration” as wellas respect the rights and responsibilitiesof all parties concerned.

Nearly 200 countries including Aus-tralia have stuck a landmark grandbargain on climate change after

two weeks of grinding negotiations inParis. They agreed for the first time to take ac-

tion to curb greenhouse gas emissions.The Paris agreement will come into effectin 2020, and will require all countries,rather than just the wealthy ones, to tackleclimate change.

Julie Bishop, Australian Foreign AffairsMinister speaking on behalf of the “um-brella group” - a block of non-Europeanindustrialised nations - said the world hadproduced a framework for all nations toplay their part in securing “a safe and moreprosperous world for future generations,our work here is done and now we returnhome to implement the new global agree-ment”.

In the end, 187 nations came to the partywith a climate target that even if fulfilled,will leave the planet on the path to whatscientists say would be dangerous globalwarming – estimated to be about 2.7 de-grees above pre-industrial times.

Climate Institute chief executive John

Connor said Australian polices now had tomatch the aspirations set in Paris. “UnlessAustralia adopts more aggressive policies,current targets would still leave it the high-est per capita polluter in G20 by 2030,alongside only Saudi Arabia, consideredan obstructive force in the Paris talks.

Cardinal Pell’s appearance deferred

16 The Voice of the Maltese Tuesday December 22, 2015

In a wide-ranging interviewwith Sky News, formerPrime Minister Tony Abbott

has called for a “religious rev-olution” inside Islam, declar-ing, “All cultures are notequal”.

“We've got to work closelywith live-and-let-liveMuslims because thereneeds to be, as president(Abdel Fattah) Al-Sisi ofEgypt has said, a reli-gious revolution insideIslam.“All of those things that

Islam has never had - aReformation, an Enlight-enment, a well-developedconcept of the separationof church and state - thatneeds to happen.

“But we can't do it;Muslims have got to dothis for themselves. Butwe should work withthose who are pushing inthat direction.

“All cultures are not equaland, frankly, a culture that be-lieves in decency and toleranceis much to be preferred to onewhich thinks that you can kill inthe name of God, and we've gotto be prepared to say that.”

Prime Minister MalcolmTurnbull has fired back at callsby his predecessor Tony Abbottfor a “religious revolution”within Islam by cautioningagainst blaming all Muslims forIslamic State terrorist attacks.While declining to criticise Mr.Abbott directly, Mr. Turnbull

struck a markedly different tonewhen asked to respond to theformer prime minister's com-ments.“The simple fact of the matter

is the vast majority of Muslimsare as appalled by these acts ofextremism as we are”.

Back in 1992, Paul Keating, the thenPrime Minister said the starting point

in tackling disadvantage was to recognisethat the problem began with “us non-Abo-riginal Australians”.

In his Redfern Park NSW speech 23years ago he said, “We took the traditionallands and smashed the traditional way oflife. We brought the diseases. The alco-hol,” he declared. “We committed themurders. We took the children from theirmothers. We practiced discrimination andexclusion. It was our ignorance and ourprejudice - and our failure to imaginethese things being done to us."Now, in an address at the Australian Mu-

seum in Sydney to mark the 23rd anniver-sary of that speech, Mr. Keating said themore non-Indigenous Australians came tosee the country through the eyes of its firstpeople, the better off the whole countrywill be.Rather than re-enter the debate on consti-tutional recognition and his support for acompact, or treaty, Mr. Keating exploreda bigger proposition - that Australia's po-tential will not be realised until the ques-tion of identity is settled.

“Whatever our identity today is or hasbecome, it is an identity that cannot beseparated from Aboriginal Australia,” hesaid. “For their 50,000 years here hasslaked the land with their resonances, theirpresence and their spirit.

"Our opportunity is to rejoice in theiridentity, and without attempting to appro-priate or diminish it, fuse it with our own,making the whole richer”.

A quick glimpse at AustraliaA quick glimpse at Australia

The Australian Broadcasting Commission is setto appoint the first female managing director in

its history, with Google executive Michelle Guthrieexpected to succeed Mark Scott in 2016.

Mc Guthrie - a globetrotting Mandarin-speakerworking mother - is based in Singapore and managesGoogle’s relationships with marketing and advertis-ing agencies across Asia. She was born in Sydneyand studied arts/law at Sydney University.

She began her career as a lawyer specialising inmedia and technology. She worked in senior roleswith Foxtel and News International in Britain beforerunning News Corporation’s Asian television empire.

All cultures are not equal

First for ABC?

Australiathrough

Aboriginaleyes

Australians remain stub-bornly overweight as a na-

tion, still eat terribly and don’texercise. However, the goodnews is that Australians aresmoking less than they used todo. Seven out of ten Australianmen and one in two women areoverweight or obese. One in

four children are the same. Three out of twenty adults are

daily smokers and one in sixadults are at risk of long-termharm from alcohol. One in sixAustralian adults suffers frommental health behavioral prob-lem. These are among the find-ings of the Bureau of Statisticsnational health survey, a trien-nial report that takes the pulseof the nation based on sample of20,000 people.

Top three causes of dead inAustralia are health disease,conditions that effect circula-tion and dementia.

The pulse of the nation

MICHELLE ROWLAND MP

FEDERAL MEMBER FOR GREENWAY

WISHING EVERYONE A VERY MERRY

CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR.

230 Prospect Hwy, Seven Hills 2147Ph: 9671 4780

Email:Michelle.Rowland.MP@aph.gov.au

Twitter: @mrowlandmp

www.facebook.com/mrowlandmp

Tuesday December 22, 2015 The Voice of the Maltese 17

Australian Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull (left) with Malta’s Parliamentary Speaker Dr Anglu Farrugia during CHOGM 2015

18 The Voice of the Maltese Tuesday December 22, 2015

2016 committee forHamrun Association

The Óamrun AssociationNSW Ltd recently held its

annual general meeting atits centre at 100 JacksonRoad Marsden Park andelected the new committeefor 2016, which will now bemade up of: President: Geo-rge Zarha; V/President: Ch-ris Sciberras; Secretary: Alf-red Pace; A/Secretary: RobinMcGarrigle and Treasurer:Vicky Hili

The president George Zah-ra thanked all the membersfor their contribution duringthe year and invited all Mal-tese in the area to join asmembers.

Emanuel Camilleri, thePresident of the MCC wasthe returning officer.BELOW: the new com-mittee, with MCC (NSWpresident Em. Camilleri.From left: Chris Sciber-ras, Theresa Rizzo,Robin McGarrigle, VickyHilli, George Zarha,Emanuel Camilleri andAlfred Pace.

Ma tistax matammirax l-

entuΩjaΩmu u ˙er-qa li twassal g˙aç-çelebrazzjoni tal-festa ta’ San Ni-kola li ssir fil-par-roçça tal-GoodShepherd fi Plum-pton NSW. Ta’ dinis-sena kienet is-36 darba li ©ietimfakkra l-festaf’temp sabi˙ li©ibed lejh ˙afnanies.

Fr B Sant u FrG . O ’ D e m p s e y ,iççelebraw il-qud-diesa tal-festa fil-waqt li Fr ClaudeBorg bierek il-˙obΩ tradizzjuna-li. wara mbag˙adsaret il-purçissjonibl-istatwa li fiha˙adu sehem il-kortal-G˙aqda Kul-turali kif ukoll il-OLQP Maltese Band. Kif xieraqf’festa Maltija, fl-a˙har kien hemmukoll il-log˙ob tan-nar.Bill Schembri, il-president tal-G˙aq-da tal-festa San Nikola, ta ˙ajr lildawk kollha li ˙admu biex il-festata’ din is-sena wkoll kienet suççess.

The Llandilo Maltese Day Group under the leadershipof Helen Azzopardi paid a visit to the Kurnell Maltese

Presepju (crib). Where it was welcomed by host Joe (Il-Mosti) Deguara and his faithful companion Beckham theBeagle. Victor Sammut, the builder of the Presepju was un-avoidably absent. After admiring il-Presepju and taking

photos, the Group settled down for tea/coffee and the pu-dina that Helen brought with her.

Some members of the group visited The Captain CookLanding Place, the shores of Botany Bay, the Visitors Cen-tre and the whale-watching platform in Kamay BotanyBay National Park.After lunch they returned to Llandilo.

On a visit to the KurnellMaltese Presepju

Fi Plumpton(g as-36 darba)iççelebratab’suççessil-festa ta’ San Nikola

L-Assoçjazzjoni tal-Maltin-Aw-straljani f’Malta Ωammet l-ap-puntament tag˙ha ta’ kull sena

f’dawn iΩ-Ωminijiet billi laqqg˙et lill-membri u lill-˙bieb tag˙hom g˙all-ikla tal-Milied, li g˙aliha din id-darbakien mistieden il-Kummissarju G˙oliMalti fl-Awstralja, l-Éççellenza Tieg˙uCharles Muscat u l-mara tieg˙u Victo-ria li jinsabu Malta g˙all-btajjel biexjiltaqg˙u mal-familjari tag˙hom.

Il-Kummissarju g˙adda xi ˙in idurmejda mejda jitkellem mal-membri,li xi w˙ud g˙amlu snin l-Awstralja.

Mistieden ie˙or speçjali mill-Aw-stralja kien Charles Mifsud, li ftit tal-jiem qabel kien g˙adu kif ing˙atal-Midalja g˙all-Qadi tar-Repubblikamill-President ta’ Malta, u martu Jessie

Minbarra l-attendenza tajba g˙aldin l-okkaΩjoni, fuq wiçç ˙afna deheril-fer˙ li mill-©did setg˙u jiltaqg˙u

mal-mistednin mill-Awstralja li kie-nu jafu fiΩ-Ωmien meta kienu jg˙ixul-Awstralja imma kien ilhom ˙afnasnin ma jiltaqg˙u mag˙hom.Spikkat fost l-o˙rajn il-laqg˙a li ma

kienx qed jistenna ta’ wie˙ed mill-membri tal-g˙aqda, Joe Cilia, l-eksfutboler tat-tim nazzjonali Maltikemm ma’ Charles Muscat u wkollCharles Mifsud. Cilia lag˙ab g˙al sittsnin (1972-78) mal-Melita Eagles.

The Maltese in Australia were relegated to empty TV screens when theusual Sunday morning (Dec 20th) half-hour programme aired on na-

tional free-to-air SBSTV network did not materialise. This segment is sent to SBSTV by PBS Malta and it is screened each Thurs-

day and Sunday at 8 pm (Australian time). The Australian TV station announced that the segment was not received

in Sydney on time.

Tuesday December 22, 2015 The Voice of the Maltese 19

The Maltese Community Council of NSW has once again attracted finan-cial assistance from Holroyd City Council under the Community Building

Partnership Programe 2015 to its major project to extend the Headmaster’sCottage now named the Alfred Fenech Maltese Resource Centre.

Pictured: (from left): Jathavi Logahassan , Julie Finn MP, Emanuel Camilleri(MCC president), Clr Greg Cummings Mayor of Holroyd, Logan A. Logahassanrepresenting the Consortium of Tamils , Yathugiri Logahassan and Mark Caru-ana (MCC v/president).

Holroyd City Council helps MCC (NSW) project

Iltqajt ma’ ra©el xwejja˙fil-wied, ©o g˙ar mudlam

i˙ejji u jnaddaf˙a j©ibu qisu r˙am.

Staqsejtu: “Ja missierix’int tag˙mel hawn dal-˙in,

Ωgur lilek tfittxek niesekim˙assba, imsejknin.”

“Ma tafx li ser jitwieled?Ma tafx wasal iΩ-Ωmien?

G˙alhekk nixtieq in˙abrek,Inlesti, bla dewmien.”“Ja xwejja˙, imxi lura

dak mo˙˙ok ftit g˙ajjien,ma tafx li ilu sekli

li twieled? Dan treddin.”“Hu minnu l’ilu sekliifittex lok tal-kenn,

il-bniedem lilu jwarrab,g˙alih qatt ˙add ma j˙enn.

G˙alhekk g˙alih in˙ejjiil-maqjel ©ewwa l-g˙ar.

U int binti,in©abar,mur lura lejn id-dar.”

Mort lura dritt lejn dari,mort lura kollni skiet,˙osbiena b’dak li qalliix-xwejja˙ ta’ ©ol-wied!

Lina Brockdorff12/12/73

Ix-Xwejja˙tal-Milied

Thank you Thank you from Kurnellfrom Kurnell

Winds packing 213km/h – the most de-structive in NSW history – swept

through Southern Sydney (Dec 16), liftingroofs off houses, bringing down trees andleaving more than 20,000 homes and busi-ness without power. The storm’s brunt wasfelt most in the southern beachside of Kur-nell. The Voice of the Maltese was in touch withJoe (il-Mosti) Deguara, a delegate to theMaltese Community Council of NSW andthe member of Sutherland & St GeorgeMaltese Group who resides at Kurnell.

He told us he was fortunate that his resi-dence was not touched by the tornado, andwas only affected with disruption to electric-ity for a short time. Nonetheless he wishesto sincerely thank the many friends and ac-quaintances that telephoned him request-ing assurances about his safety.

What a letdown! No Maltese programme on SBS

Laqg˙a sorpriza g˙all-Kummissarju Muscatmal-eks futboler tal-Melita Eagles Joe Clia

Kummissarju G˙oli Malti fl-Awstralja, l-ET Charles Muscat(xellug) u Charles Mifsud mal-eks plejer tal-Eagles Joe Cilia

20 Voice of the Maltese Tuesday December 22, 2015

ÌUÛE` CASSAR PULLICINO twieled Birkirkara fil-21 ta’ Settembrutal-1921. B˙ala xog˙ol da˙al ja˙dem fis-servizz çivili fl-1940 urtira fl-1979 b˙ala Direttur fil-Ministeru tal-Industrija. G˙amel

Ωmien b˙ala bibljotekarju fil-Fakultà tat-Teolo©ija (Fondazzjoni tal-Istudji Teolo©içi). Huwa ΩΩewwe© f’Óal-Balzan fejn baqa’ jg˙ix samewtu, fit-13 ta’ Marzu tal-2005.Huwa kien mag˙ruf b˙ala l-pijunier folklorista u g˙al g˙add ta’ snin

kien lekçerer fil-dipartiment tal-Malti jg˙allem il-folklor Malti, il-let-teratura u l-istorja soçjali. Is-sehem tieg˙u lil-lettratura Maltijang˙ata g˙arfien meta bini fl-Universita’ ng˙ata ismu, ‘Binja ÌuΩe`Cassar Pullicino’. Pittura tieg˙u tinsab ukoll fil-Kamra tal-Konferenzifl-Universita` f’Tal-Qroqq.

Fl-1950 huwa kien ing˙ata scholarship mill-British Council g˙at-ta˙ri© b˙ala bibljotekarju f’Leeds u Londra; in˙atar Associate of theLibrary Association (1952); sar membru tal-Akkademja tal-Malti umembru tal-kumitat tag˙ha (1942-45) u tal-G˙aqda tal-Malti (Uni-versità); Assistent Editur tal-Melita Historica (1952-61); u tal-Mal-tese Folklore Review (1962-73).Fl-ewwel snin tieg˙u iffoka l-isforzi tieg˙u biex jiskopri l-istorja an-

tika tal-folklor li ˙add qabel kien g˙adu ma st˙arre©. G˙amel studjudwar il-le©endi, fosthom it-Tradizzjonijiet Pawlini f’Malta, Il-Pirati ut-Torok fit-Tradizzjonijiet Maltin, u L-Okkupazzjoni FrançiΩa fit-Tradizzjoni Maltija. Kien ukoll President Onorarju tal-G˙aqda tal-Folklor; membru tal-

Kunsill ta’ Din l-Art ˙elwa (1965-67); tal-Folklore Society ta’ Londra(mill-1962-), u tal-International Society for Folk-Narrative Researchta’ Pari©i (1962-).ÌuΩe`˙a sehem u qara studji f’diversi kungressi internazzjonali f’-

Malta, fi Kiel, Kopenhagen, Catanja, Ìerba (it-TuneΩija) u l-Kanada.Kien mog˙ti l-midalja tal-Mertu tal-Fidda mill-Konfederazzjoni tal-Kunsilli Çiviçi (1970); reba˙ il-Premju tal-Gvern Malti g˙all-A˙jar

Ktieb Ma˙ru© fl-1974; il-PremjuLetterarju g˙al xog˙ol ori©inalita’ riçerka dwar ÌuΩè MuscatAzzopardi (1978); il-Malta Liter-ary Award (1979); il-Premio Cittàdi Valletta (1989); ©ie mog˙ti l-Grad ta’ Master of Philosophy(Hon. Causa) mill-Università ta’Malta (1993), u wkoll il-Midaljag˙all-Qadi tar-Repubblika ta’Malta (1993).ÌuΩè Cassar Pullicino, meqjus

b˙ala studjuΩ ewlieni dwar il-folklor u l-kitba tal-Malti g˙andudiversi pubblikazzjonijiet f’danir-rigward, fosthom The Order ofSt John in Maltese Folk Memory. Huwa l-awtur ta’ Kelma Wa˙da Biss (1971); Aquilina u l-Malti (1974);

ÌuΩè Muscat Azzopardi: Studji (1991); Kitba u Kittieba tal-Malti – tlietkotba (1962-64); Dun Karm: tag˙rif ©did u noti kritiçi (1985); PoeΩijita’ Ìor© Zammit: noti kritiçi (1985); ÌuΩè Ellul Mercer: il-kitbietmi©bura, l-ewwel ktieb (1985); Malta fis-Seklu Tmintax: xi djarji Maltintal-Img˙oddi (1981); An Introduction to Maltese Folklore (1947); Óa©aMo˙©a©a 1-4 (1957-59); Il-Folklor Malti (1960); Stejjer ta’ Niesna(1962); Il-Bennejja tal-Folklor Malti (1964); Studies in Maltese Folklore(1976); Skun©rar u Orazzjoni fil-PoeΩija Popolari Reli©juΩa f’Malta(1981); Studji di tradizioni popolari maltesi (1989); L-Img˙oddi tal-Ìens Tag˙na: Bejn Storja u Folklor (1990); ÓΩuΩ Manwel Magri: Ktiebtan-Notamenti dwar il-Folklor Malti (1991); Kitba bil-Malti sal-1870(2001) u Kitbiet O˙ra tas-Seklu Dsatax (2002) u Óa©a Mo˙©a©a uTa˙bil il-Mo˙˙ Ie˙or (2003).

ÌUÛE` CASSAR PULLICINO, Kittieb u Folklorista (1921-2005)

Biex tiktebMalti tajjeb

Aktar dwar il-Verb: forom, modi u tempijiet (3)

IRQAQAT:a) L-n tal-Imperfett titbiddel f’l, m, r,quddiem il-verbi li fl-Imperativ jibdewb’dawn il-konsonanti.EΩ.: Jiena llaqqat flok nlaqqat; jienarrid flok nrid; jiena mmexxi floknmexxi.

b) It-t ta’ l-Imperfett titbiddel f’ç, d, ©, s, x, z, Ω, qud-diem verbi li fl-Imperativ jibdew b’dawn il-konsonanti.

EΩ.: Inti ççemple flok tçempel; inti ddur flok tdur;inti ©©orr flok t©orr, eçç.

ç) Il-j tal-Imperfett titbiddel f’i:(1) meta ta˙bat bejn Ωew© konsonanti.

EΩ.: kien isuq minflok kien jsuq.

(ii) meta ta˙bat fil-bidu ta’ sentenza.EΩ.: I˙obb ji©ri.

(iii) wara l-punte©©atura jekk warajha jkollhakonsonanti.

EΩ.: Jag˙mel kollox: isuq, ig˙abbi, i˙ott...

Fil-˙ar©a li jmiss nittrattaw il-irqaqat fil-Perfett.

Shops 3 & 4, 398 Hamilton RoadFAIRFIELD WEST NSW

PO Box W210, Fairfield West, NSW, 2165

P (02) 9604 0710

F (02) 9609 3873

E Chris.Bowen.MP@aph.gov.au

Tuesday December 22, 2015 The Voice of the Maltese 21

Readers of The Voiceof the Maltese are re-minded that the nextissue, and the first onefor the New Year, 2016,will be published onJanuary 5. In the mean-time we also wish tothank all those whohave been loyal to our magazine that has keptgrowing in popularityand has now estab-lished itself as themost sought-after pub-lication by the Maltesediaspora.

On behalf of the committee of St John Sydney Xewkija Associa-tion I wish to thank all our sponsors and all the people whosupport us during the year by attending our functions. We

wish them all a Joyous Christmas and a Happy New Year 2016.

Best wishes fromSt John Sydney

XewkijaAssociation

Learn

Maltese!

MALTESE LANGUAGE SCHOOL OF NSW

Classes are available for students from 6 years to adults at all levels of ability in theMaltese language. We have trained and experienced teachers qualified in

language teaching and with Maltese study credentials. Learn the Maltese language,the culture, lifestyle, cuisine, traditions and about the amazing history of the island.

Classes at: HORSLEY PARK - SEVEN HILLS - LUDDENHAM

For more information and enquiries Phone 0433 091 788Or email: malteselanguageschoolnsw@hotmail.com

Supported by the Minister of Education and Training and the NSW Community Languages Schools Programme.

Member of the NSW Federation of Community Language Schools of NSW; Member of the Federation of

Maltese Language Schools of Australia; Supported by 16 Maltese associations affiliated with the MCC

of NSW. The Maltese Language School of NSW is a Not-For-Profit organisation.

A Division of the Maltese Com-munity Council of NSW Inc.

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

il-kitbiet tag˙kom.

Tinteressak il -kitba?

Community NewsCommunity News

Id-Dar Tal-Providenza Malta, looksafter over 100 residents with dis-

ability and requires over $4 million annually which israised through sponsors, activities and public dona-

tions.

The Friends Of Providence House NSW was foundedin October 2011 and have so far raised over $46,000.

We are the official Ambassadors in Australia.

Donations can be made at any Commonwealth Bankof Australia.

PLEASE GIVE GENEROUSLY – donations are acknowledged

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

Ordinator: Jim Borg (02) 9636 7767

Proudly supported by:

FRIENDS OF PROVIDENCE HOUSE NSW

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

CHRISTMAS 2015 FUND RAISING APPEAL

The Maltese Language School of NSW invites appli-cations for Maltese language classes at the

Alfred Fenech Maltese Resource Centre located at59b 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 2189or email: malteselanguageschoolnsw@hotmail.com

The Maltese Language School of NSW

La Valette Social CentreChristmas Programme

CHRISTMAS EVE December 24: 10.45 p.m.: Proces-sion with statue of baby Jesus; Carols by La Valette Choir

under the direction by Mro. Victor Flordia; Christmas Pag-eant: Il-Leggenda tal-Ewwel Milied; Traditional sermon by

Natasha Tatarinoff followed by Midnight Mass.SATURDAY December 26: The Centre opens at

5pm.with normal trading. 8pm.Ghana (folk singing).Everyone is welcome.

THURSDAY December 31: New Year’s Eve DinnerDance. $55 adults, $30 for children. Entertainment by

The Falcons. All welcome..For more information: phone: La Valette: 9622 5847;

Frances 0412 320 4320 or Antoinette: 9671 2992

St Helena Maltese/Australian SC. Christmas GreetingsThe President & Committee would like to wish all Members and

Sponsors a Very Happy Christmas and a peaceful 2016.

We also thank them for all the support they gave the club in 2015

The President and Committee of the MalteseCommunity Council of NSW wish to thankyou for your generous support throughout theyear. We also wish you and your families aHappy & Holy Christmas and a prosperousNew Year 2016.

Maltese Community Council of NSW Inc.

22 The Voice of the Maltese Tuesday December 22, 2015

On SBS RadioDay Time Analogue and Digital

Friday: 12:00-13:00 97.7fm SBS Radio 2Saturday: 14:00-15:00: 97.7fm SBS Radio 2To tune into digital radio you need a re-ceiver or device with a DAB+ chip. Tuningin is by station name not frequency. Digitalradio can also be heard via digital TV.

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

Maltese Radio ProgrammesMELBOURNE, on 3ZZZ 92.3FM or onwww.3zzz.com.au. Mondays 5pm, Fridays5pm, Saturdays 10am.; Last Wednesday eachmonth at 1pm.MELBOURNE on 98.9 North West FM, eachFriday 6.00 - 7.00p.m. Presenter EmmanuelBrincat.MELBOURNE: STEREO 974 (93180930):97.4FM Wed (Maltese Magazine) & Thursday(Mer˙ba): 6.00pm to 8.00 pm Co-ordinator –Ray AnastasiIn SYDNEY, listen to the MCC radio pro-grammes on 2GLF FM 89.3. Saturdays 6 to 8a.m. Martese Caruana presents NostalgiaMusic; Sundays from 10.00 - 11.00 am: Il naMaltin. Both available on demand. Followsame procedure as for MCC programmes, exceptselect programe in reference.In BRISBANE listen to the Maltese Programon 4EB on Tuesdays 6.00 -8.15am; Sundays4.15pm to 5.15pmUNCLE SAM DJ (Maltese Radio) tune in tolink: www.unclesamdj.com

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

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

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

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

(On Demand >Ethnic >Maltese Council 11am)Il-programm ta’ sieg˙a nhar ta’ Óadd fil-11.00 a.m. ikun fih l-a˙˙ar a˙barijietminn Malta, muΩika, tag˙rif, kultura,avviΩi u su©©etti ta’ interess g˙all-Maltin

Tune In to Radio and Television

Saint Nicholas Festa Committee Events

in 2016Sunday March 13

FeteSunday July 3

Lejla Fil-Buskett

Sunday October 16 Fete

Sunday December 4 FestaMaltese Programmes on TV and Web

The GDAY MALTAUSSIE SHOW on TVS is broadcast in Sydney

Every Saturday at 2pm. Repeats onMondays 5 pm and Tuesdays 7.30 amWatch direct via HYPERLINK:http://ww.tvs.org.au; http://ww.tvs.org.au

Community NewsCommunity News

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

Meetings of DayCare Maltese

Groups in NSWFairfield Active Maltese SeniorsMeets on the first Tuesday of the Month

from10:00am to 12 noon. The group meets in the Parish Hall, cnr

of Stella Street & The Boulevard, Fair-field Heights.

Maltese Seniors Central CoastYou need to contact our Welfare

Officer for an appointment.For all information and referral

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

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

Daceyville Maltese SeniorsMeets on the last Wednesday of the

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

Merrylands Social Maltese SeniorsMeets every second Friday of the

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

Landillo Maltese SeniorsMeets on the first Wednesday of each

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

Greystanes Maltese SeniorsMeets on the second Monday of each

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

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

Our Meetings/Get Togethers are inter-esting, informative & entertaining. Come Join us and make new Friends

For more information contact our Coor-dinator: Charles Mifsud J.P.Phone (02)9501 5525 – mobile 0421 662 298.

VIVA MALTAVIVA MALTA on COAST FM 96.3Community Radio in Gosford Central

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

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

Join us on The Voice of theMaltese facebook page:

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

maltese

Friendship Group

Men and Women45 and Older Single

The Friendship Group is a socialgroup for people who would like more

friends at times.We arrange activities that suit our

needs and likes.

For more information ring

Wendy on 9809 3957

or 0415 946 296

Tuesday December 22, 2015 The Voice of the Maltese 23

The Xag˙ra Association of NSW Inc.INVITES YOU TO COME & CELEBRATE: Australia Dayat a Dinner Dance on January 23, 2016

Venue: Mandavilla Function Centre1788 The Horsley Drive, Horsley ParkFood: 3-Course Meal, beer, wine, soft drinks, tea, coffee, pastizzi; also antipasti plus fruit platters

Entertainment: provided by Joe Apap Contact:Josephine/Ray: 9627 4182, Mob: 0439 974 182; M'Anne Teuma: 9627 4641

IL-KLABB TAL-ÓAMRUN qed jorganizza l-Ballu Annwali tal-Ewweltas-Sena (The New Year’s Eve Dinner Dance) fil-klabb

DATA: Il-Hamis 31 ta’Dicembru bejn is-7 p.m u s-1.00 a.m.Ikun hemm ikla 3-course flimkien ma’ flixkun inbid u Jug orange juice f’kull mejda.

DIVERTIMENT minn Charlie Muscat u Vince Bezzina.Donazzjoni ta’ $45 dollaru kull persuna.

G˙al tag˙rif u biljetti g˙aΩ-Ωewg attivitajiet çemplu lil: George Zahra - mobile: 0407 434 651 jew il-klabb 9838 1111

G˙alkemm il-PBS ta’ Malta tforni lill-SBS fl-Awstralja bis-servizz tag˙ha, il-qarrejja huma m˙e©©a biex x’˙in iridujid˙lu fil-website:www.tvm.com.mt u jsegwu l-a˙barijietta’ Malta minn hemmhekk.

Il-website tkun a©©ornata l-˙in kollubi 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.

L-a˙barijiet tal-PBS (Malta)

THE MALTESE GUILD OF SA INC. Cordially Invites You to...

THE NEW YEAR’S EVE DINNER DANCE 2015

To Be Held At The Maltese Multicultural Centre6, Jeanes Street Beverley SA 5009

On Thursday Evening 31st December 2015, Door Open At 6.45pm Music Entertainment Start at 7. 30pm Till 12.30am

Entertainment By: By Julia Williams Band “Regeneration” 4-Course Meal: Antipasto with prawns on table, Main

Course, Desert, Conectionery Tea/Coffee.Drinks Included (Wine, beer and soft drinks from the bar

Price: Members $45 Non Members $50Catering by: Hospitality & Catering Service

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Bookings are available From: The Guild office in person or phone the office on Tuesday’s only from8.30am to 3pm on 8243 0868; the President Joe Briffa: 8254 6988 or 0421791 327; the Secretary Rita Bornhoeft: 8248 1008 or 0401 860;the v/President Mary Craus: 82812923 or 0420 699 617

Jekk trid tixtri kopja ipprintjata bil-kulur ta’ kull ˙ar©a tal-magaΩin TheVoice of the Maltese, g˙andek tmurpersunalment fil-Maltese Resource

Centre f’59b Franklin & YoungStreet Parramatta NSW (˙dejn Par-ramatta West Primary School) nhar ta’ Erbg˙a u nhar ta’ Ìimg˙a mid-9

am sa nofsinhar.Çempel 0409 744 376

The Voice issaipprintjata wkoll

The Voice of the Maltese onlinemagazine  is  by  far  the  mostwidely read publication amongthe Maltese Diaspora, with sub-scribers  from Australia,  Cana-da,  the  UK,  Belgium,  France,Italy,  India,  the  Caribbean  is-land  of  St  Kitts  &  Nevis,  andBelgium. But not only. It is alsogaining popularity in Malta. 

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

The 16th Annual - Quiet AchieversNight of Recognition

(To be held during Seniors’ Week 2016)

The Maltese community extends recognition and gives thanks to

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

This event is being sponsord by

In response to a number of inquiries, The Voice of theMaltese wishes to advice that we can now supply

hard copies in colour of our magazine to our readersat a price. So anybody interested in acquiring copiesof the magazine can communicate with us personallyor by email to: maltesevoice@gmail.com.

The magazine can also be delivered by post. As thecost of postage varies one is kindly requested to getin touch with us to work out the details.

Readers can also request a printed copy of

The Voice of The Maltese magazine by post

Community NewsCommunity News

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

Valletta, beat Hibs to openKevin Muscat’s Melbourne Victory keep

slipping down the ladder after their fourthstraight defeat, the latest against cross-town ri-vals City in the Melbourne derby at AAMIPark in front of a crowd of 23,500 by 1-2.

While Victory are now seven points adrift ofthe leaders, free-scoring City are now on afour-game winning run scoring 16 goals in theprocess and are three points off the top.

Perth Glory ended Western Sydney’s seven-match winning streak, by holding them to a 2-2 draw, but the Wanderers hold on to atwo-point lead over Brisbane who were 1-0away victors over Central Coast.

Sydney look-ed set to take all three poi-ntsfollowing as t u n n i n gstrike at Wel-lington, but aclumsy chal-lenge insidethe box gavethe Phoenixthe chance tolevel, from thespot.

The Valletta supporters could not havewished for a better present for Christmas

from their Premier League team as by beatingdefending champions Hibernians 3-2, the Cit-izens have taken sole command of the leagueladder to go three pointsclear and end the year ona high.

With all the goals com-ing in an action-packedsecond half, Valletta tookthe lead and then lost itagain before scoring twomore in a four-minutespell. Hibernians tried tomake a comeback butthey only managed to pull

one goal back. The defeat relegated Hibernians to fourth

position as they have now been overtaken byboth Birkirkara and Floriana who were con-vincing victors on the 16th day.

Malta’s Premier League Football

2-02-10-42-12-1

2-12-20-11-10-0

Melbourne C. v Melbourne V.Perth Glory v West. Sydney WCentral Coast v Brisbane R.Wellington Ph v Sydney FC Newcastle Jets v Adelaide Day 10West. Sydney W v Melbourne V. Brisbane R.v Wellington PhNewcastle Jets v Melbourne C.Adelaide v Sydney FCPerth Glory v Central Coast

Valletta v BalzanHibernians v Tarxien RBirkirkara v PembrokeFloriana v Naxxar L. Sliema W. v Mosta Qormi v St. Andrews

RESULTS: Round 16

VallettaBirkirkaraFlorianaHiberniansTarxien R.BalzanMostaSliema WPembrokeQormiNaxxarSt Andrews

16 11 1 3 34 15 3416 9 5 2 35 16 3216 10 2 4 29 16 3216 9 4 2 35 19 3116 8 4 4 28 14 2816 8 3 5 24 19 2716 7 4 5 24 19 2416 6 3 7 22 25 2116 5 3 8 22 27 1816 2 3 11 17 48 916 2 2 12 14 47 816 0 0 16 7 49 0

Standing P W D L F A Pts

Australia A-League

Victory suffer 4thstraight defeat

Figures for 2015 just released by FootballNSW indicate that total participationnumbers have surged this year as it hit

324,601 to well and truly surpass 2014 num-bers, while an 8% year on year growth in reg-istered outdoor football players (226,056) wasthe clear highlight in the year with the totalplayer registration numbers reaching 293,736.

The biggest percentage growth (19%) wasseen in Summer Football, a small-sided socialversion of the beautiful game, where almost24,000 players continued their football experi-ence throughout the summer months.

Futsal participation rose by a similar amount,10,041 players (a 15% increase) pulling on theboots for the indoor version of football.

Registrations in NSW peaked to their high-est-ever levels thanks to the success of the Soc-ceroos, Matildas, Hyundai A-League,W-League and National Youth Leagues to playa pivotal role in the growth of player numbers.

Four associations, Blacktown, Canterbury,Macarthur and Eastern Suburbs, all grew by10%; Sutherland Association broke throughthe 18,000-player mark for the first time.

When it comes to referees, their number hasgrown to 5,390, while 13,973 coaches wereregistered taking advantage of quality coursesand coaching resources made available to themby Football NSW and Associations.

The future also looks bright as school num-bers took a massive leap with 33,656 studentsparticipating in the sport compared with25,000 in 2014. These numbers only representthe programmes delivered by Football NSW.They do not include school competitions.

Football NSW CEO Eddie Moore ecstaticwith the record numbers the game achieved aswell as achieving the golden 300,000 partici-pant milestone, said “It is phenomenal to see

Spor ts Spor ts

In 2015 Football NSW exceeds 320,000 participants

4-22-03-02-11-14-0

Valletta v Hibernians Birkirkara v MostaTarxien R. v Naxxar L.Balzan v PembrokeFloriana v St AndrewsSliema W v Qormi

?-?3-04-00-05-06-3

Round 15

24 The Voice of the Maltese Tuesday December 22, 2015

the surge in popularity that football has expe-rienced this past season. Football NSW haveworked tirelessly in achieving this magnificentresult but it was supported greatly by a wholehost of people in the football family.

He went on to point out that the spike in num-bers can be credited towards the hard work andefforts of all the association’s 706 clubs and the11,503 volunteers.

“The Socceroos taking out the AFC AsianCup as well as the Westfield Matildas doingever so well at this year’s FIFA Women’sWorld Cup combined with the successes of theHyundai A-League and Westfield W-League toplay a key role in this growth,” he added.

Meanwhile, FFA CEO David Gallop haspraised football organisations and Hyundai A-League clubs for their work in harnessing thebooming interest in football. “The heroes ofthis story are the thousands of volunteers in

clubs across Australia, the suburban associa-tions and zones," he said. He added: “Guiding their efforts are the man-

agement teams in the state and territory mem-ber federations and A-league clubs. This hugeincrease would not be possible without a co-ordinated and integrated effort.

“Through their commitment to the cause thevolunteers and managers enable so many Aus-tralians of all ages to play the beautiful game.”He thanked each and every volunteer and staff

member who contributed to the success.

LATEST RESULTS: Day 11

three-point gap on top of ladder