The Australian High Commissioner, Richard Palk, and his charming wife Helen, on January 26 hosted the traditional Australia Day reception at their residence, Villa Rizq, in San Pawl tat-Targa.
The several hundred guests were led by President Edward Fenech Adami, and included ministers, former Presidents, Mr Speaker Anton Tabone, MPs, ambassadors and other members of the diplomatic corps, Australian nationals, and members of the two Maltese-Australian associations.
In his brief but witty speech, Mr Palk said this was the 218th anniversary of the founding of Australia, namely of the first European settlement at Sydney Cove. Turning to Maltese-Australian relations, he said that his annual "report card" for last year has been pretty good.
Speaking without notes, Mr Palk referred to various events which served to cement Maltese-Australian relations last year: beginning with the arrival, in April, of the Queen's Baton, visiting Valletta, Zejtun and Mdina. The baton is still on its 180,000-km round-the-world journey, ending next month with the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, which will be attended by the Maltese foreign minister.
Then there was the first visit by an Australian warship to Malta in 43 years. A six-man trade delegation from Sydney met various ministers and Chamber of Commerce officials, and had "a very fruitful visit".
The Australian Malta Knights rugby team - made up entirely of Maltese-Australians - played a British team in Malta. There was then the visit of the NSW Local Government minister, Mr Palk continued.
Naturally the year reached a climax with CHOGM and the visit of Australian Prime Minister John Howard, who had bilateral meetings, including with Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi, and also met some 300 Maltese-Australians during a reception.
And as he spoke, the Malta-Australia Cultural Week was in full swing at St James Cavalier, with screenings of Australian films and an Australian photographic exhibition.
He was pleased to say that trade links were further strengthened, and referred to the commissioning of a A$40 million ferry for Virtù Ferries, which is being delivered to the company in Fremantle.
Mr Palk also referred to the Australian company, Pancontinental Oil, which is drilling for oil in Maltese waters.
The Australian High Commissioner then paid tribute to a departing colleague, British High Commissioner, Sir Vincent Fean, and Lady Anne Fean, who had delayed their departure by a day in order to attend the Australia Day reception. (Sir Vincent has been appointed British Ambassador to Libya, a post he will be taking up in May).
It was indeed, their last farewell - unlike that of the famous Australian soprano Dame Nellie Melba who had given an unending number of "farewell" concerts!
To loud applause from those present, Mr Palk wished the Feans a fond farewell and the very best in their new posting.
Mr Palk ended by quoting Mr Howard's tribute to the Maltese community in Australia, namely that they are excellent citizens who had distinguished themselves in so many fields - from business to sport, politics and the arts.
He then proposed a champagne toast to the President and the people of Malta and to excellent relations between Malta and Australia.
Replying, President Fenech Adami said Malta always had a very close relationship with Australia, which he first visited in 1977 on becoming leader of the Nationalist Party, then in Opposition. Then he had learned that there were almost as many Malta-born Maltese-Australians as there were Maltese in Malta.
Maltese immigrants had integrated themselves well in Australian society, the President said, adding that he was impressed by Mr Palk's "report card".
Dr Fenech Adami said he was particularly pleased to meet Mr Howard last November, as he had often met him at CHOGM meetings before and invited him to visit Malta. At the last one in Abuja, Nigeria, in 2003, he remembered telling Mr Howard that he would now have to visit Malta!
The Maltese obviously felt at home in Australia - a feeling shared by Australians in Malta, he was sure. He said was pleased to see that Maltese-Australian co-operation extended to so many different areas.
President Fenech Adami then proposed a toast to Her Majesty the Queen of Australia, to the Australian government and to Maltese-Australian friendship.
The toast was followed by the playing of the two national anthems by violinist Fiona Giambra and Erika Gialanzè on the piano.
Peace Lab commemorates Gandhi's death
The Peace Lab recently commemorated the anniversary of the death of Mahatma Gandhi on January 30, 1948. The ceremony was led by the Peace Lab's founder and director, Fr Dionysius Mintoff, OFM, and attended by Peace Lab members and members of the Maltese Indian community.
Mr T. Bharwani, president of the Maltese Indian Community, placed a wreath of flowers at the monument to Gandhi which is located in a prominent place at the entrance to the Peace Chapel in Hal Far.
"Gandhi is universally acknowledged as the greatest man of his age," Fr Mintoff said.
"The extraordinary thing about it is that he was neither king nor president nor prime minister. He held no high office which allowed him to rule the destinies of countries. Nevertheless he towered above all personalities. His greatness came from the realm of the spirit, his influence from the universal love and faith in mankind."
Mr Bharwani emphasised that Mahatma Gandhi drew his strength from what he termed "moral force". According to him: "mankind is one, seeing that all are equally subject to moral laws. All people are equal in God's eyes".
Paths cross after 100 years
On January 25, 1906, when Evelyn Gauci was born in Senglea, the talk in the Maltese newspapers was of a concert given by the La Vallette Band Club. No one had heard of a 40-year-old bank in Hong Kong called Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Limited.
One hundred years later, the paths of Ms Gauci and HSBC crossed, with the latter presenting a special birthday gift to the centenarian.
"One hundred years ago, no one dreamed of a world of ATMs, Internet banking and EPOS machines," HSBC Southern Area director Francis X. Gouder said. "Yet here we are today with Evelyn living right next door to our branch in Paola and a valued customer of HSBC. Reaching the age of 100 is fantastic and presenting a gift was the least we could do on this special occasion."
Mr Gouder visited Mrs Gauci together with HSBC Paola branch manager Paul Caligari and employee Denise Caruana, who is Mrs Gauci's granddaughter.
Seven different wines at Est Est Est
At a recent tutored wine-tasting event at Est Est Est in Tower Road, Sliema, guests were treated to an interesting cross-section of seven wines from Argentina, Austria and Romania which although relatively unknown on the Maltese market, are retained as highly exquisite.
Guided by the expertise of M. Demajo (Wines & Spirits) Ltd wine manager Lino Micallef, assisted by Est Est Est manager David Zarb Mizzi, guests were given an insight into the enjoyment and tasting of Navarro Correas, Prahova Valley and Lenz Moser wines.
The Lenz Moser - Malteser Grüner Veltliner 2004 received the best accolades. It is a crispy, fruity and harmonious white wine. No wonder that it won a gold medal in the International Wine Fair in Germany last year.
Following a brief introduction about the origins and history of each and every wine that was about to be tasted, Mr Micallef made ample reference to their texture and taste and gave simple tips on how to taste and enjoy fully these and other wines.
Those who attended were then able to purchase the featured wines at very attractive prices.
This was the third wine tasting event hosted at Est Est Est and other similar events are being planned for the coming months. Anyone wishing to join Est Est Est's mailing list is requested to send an e-mail to Lino Micallef at lmicallef@demajo.com. Membership is free of charge and members will receive regular newsletters containing valuable information about wines as well as details of special offers to which they become eligible.
Malta celebrates Joseph Beuys
The Maltese Embassy in Dublin recently organised a lecture on "Joseph Beuys and the Maltese dimension in European Culture" on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the death of Joseph Beuys, one of the greatest artists of the last century.
Professor Richard Demarco, Professor Emeritus at Kensington University, addressed the audience at the embassy.
The audience included Gabriella Pauls, wife of the German Ambassador in Dublin, Ulla Matussek, wife of the German Ambassador in London, Mary Banotti, Irish MEP, Louis Le Brocquy and Anne Madden, well-known Irish artists, Professor Alistair McLennan, head of the School of Fine Arts in Ulster, and other distinguished guests from the world of the visual arts, such as Brian Maguire.
The ambassador welcomed the guests at the embassy and spoke about the long friendship of Professor Demarco with Malta.
A film, The Road to Miekle Seggie, produced in Malta in 1999, was shown to the guests.
The film described Malta's cultural identity within the context of the philosophical and artistic concepts of Joseph Beuys, linking it with Scotland and the Celtic world.
Professor Demarco, who was a close friend of Beuys, dealt at length on his personal experience of the artist.
The audience was very appreciative of this initiative, commented positively on the film about Malta and enjoyed Professor Demarco's highly informative and learned lecture.
Soirée in aid of Lions Club Sliema Art Foundation
An entertaining musical soirée was recently organised by Lions Club Sliema at Palazzo Parisio, Naxxar.
The theme of the soirée was "The Art of the Clarinet". The Denner Clarinet Quartet, led by Mro Lino Pirotta, with William Debattista, Stephen Dimech and Christopher Camilleri, played a varied programme of music - from classical to baroque to modern jazz - which enthralled the audience in the ballroom of the palazzo.
The aim of the concert was to raise funds for the Lions Club Sliema Arts Foundation, which was established in 2003 to support students furthering their studies in all spheres of art - music, painting or drama.
After the concert, those present enjoyed a sumptuous buffet dinner in the magnificent dining room.
Ghostly presences at Victoria Hotel's annual trade party
The Victoria Hotel's annual trade party this year coincided with the launch of the newly refurbished 200-year-old Palazzo Capua in Sliema.
This special event was further enhanced as the celebration was built around a medieval theme where guests were entertained by the "ghosts" of the Palazzo.
These two medieval characters formed part of a spectacular audiovisual show which included visual projections and light effects recounting the history of this magnificent building, organised by Synergix Events and AV Warehouse.
Many distinguished guests were present. These included Tourism Minister Francis Zammit Dimech, and AX Holdings chairman Angelo Xuereb and Mrs Xuereb.
Later in the evening the guests were hosted by the hotel's general manager, Claire Xuereb, to a banquet in the candle-lit atmosphere of the Grand Hall to the magical sound of harp music.
A special numbered memento, commemorating the opening of Palazzo Capua, was presented to all the guests.
The President and Mrs Fenech Adami's engagements February 6-12
Tuesday
7 p.m. The President and Mrs Fenech Adami attend Mass on the 100th birthday of Carmelina Zammit, at St Vincent de Paul Residence, Luqa.
Wednesday
10 a.m. The President receives the members of the Ghaqda Kittieba Sports at the Palace, Valletta.
11.30 The President receives the mayor and councillors of Safi.
Thursday
10 a.m. The President is presented with credentials by Cambodian Ambassador Keo Puth Reasmey.
11 The President is presented with credentials by Philippines Ambassador Bayani V. Mangibin.
Noon The President receives a Chinese official delegation from the Jim Chang District of Suzhan municipality.
1.15 p.m. The President and Mrs Fenech Adami host a luncheon in honour of the newly accredited ambassadors at San Anton Palace.
7.30 The President and Mrs Fenech Adami attend an Akkademja Korali u Muzikali to commemorate the 100th death anniversary of Canon Alwig Fenech at the collegiate and conventual church of St Lawrence in Vittoriosa.
Friday
9.10 a.m. The President and Mrs Fenech Adami attend Pontifical Mass on the feast of St Paul Shipwrecked, at St Paul's collegiate church, Valletta.
Saturday
6.30 p.m. The President and Mrs Fenech Adami attend a concelebrated Mass on World Day of the Sick at St Theresa Sanctuary, Birkirkara.
People
Marika Gatt Sacco was recently awarded the degree of Master of Arts (MA) in Early Childhood Education from the University of Sheffield, UK.
Her dissertation, entitled "Wishing upon a Star - the effects of a gender intervention programme on fairytale endings", was based on research carried out in a North Yorkshire primary school in the UK where Ms Gatt Sacco was employed as a PSD teacher.
Her work focused on Personal and Social Development (PSD) and its methodology in facilitating a change in attitude with reference to gender stereotyping. Post-structuralist feminism was the perspective adopted in this study. A gender intervention programme using PSD methodology was written for this study and implemented with a group of six-year-old children. The dissertation also analysed the impact of fairy tales on gender stereotyping.
The work was supervised by Dr Jackie Marsh from the University of Sheffield. Other tutors were Professor Cathy Nutbrown and Dr Kath Hirst (University of Sheffield).
Ms Gatt Sacco is the daughter of Charles and Susan Sacco of Lija and is married to Marcel, a surgeon. They have a two-month-old daughter, Klara, and are currently residing in Scarborough, UK.
Edgar Montanaro has been elected on the St Julian's council, following a casual election held on January 16.
The election was held after another Nationalist councillor, Robert Camenzuli, resigned from the council to take up a post at the European Parliament.
Mr Montanaro had served as councillor from 1999 to 2003.
Sergeant Ivan MarmarÀ, a pilot with the Armed Forces of Malta's Air Squadron, Second Regiment, has graduated from the Italian Air Force Instructor-Pilot School at the 72nd Squadron in Frosinone, Italy.
Sergeant Marmarà enlisted in the AFM in 1994, and joined the Air Squadron soon after his basic military training. He qualified as a helicopter pilot on the Bell 47-G2 in 1996, and went on to qualify as a pilot on the Hughes-500, Bell-212, and the Alouette III helicopters.
In Frosinone, Sgt Marmarà qualified on the school's Nardi Hughes 500E helicopter as a prerequisite for his instructor-pilot training course. The course tuition totalled 80 hours' flight time and focused on perfecting flight manoeuvres like formation operations, flight instrument navigation, mountain terrain and water-surface landings.
Appreciation - Emmanuel Lofaro
Mr Alfred Conti Borda, of Mosta, writes:
As the Lord indirectly said, our life is not ours but His and He lent it to us for a time, to take it back when we enter into the unlimited pastures of Heaven.
Emmanuel Lofaro was promoted into the fold of the Lord when he recently passed away. Of course words are not enough to express the feelings of sorrow but the thought of many happy memories may make up, albeit a little, for the instant sadness caused by the loss of a dear one.
I came to know Emmanuel 20 years ago when my family settled near his. Emmanuel was a quiet, reserved teacher, shy but full of goodness. His colleagues, students, their parents and all the staff at Ghaxaq Primary School had nothing but praise for him because he had that particular charisma of imparting knowledge and instruction silently, effectively and without any fuss.
In March 2003 he retired after a long successful teaching career, but the Lord called him back soon after.
My deepest condolences to his wife Agnes and children Reuben, Allen and Katya. I shall always remember him, especially in my prayers.
Appreciation - Richard Aquilina
Mr Eddie Aquilina, of Sliema, writes:
Yes, Richard Aquilina is 53 today. Though he died just a few weeks ago, his birthday is a celebration of what he was and what he gave us.
Gentlemanliness, first of all. Ever the perfect gentleman throughout the 37 years I knew him, he never grumbled in his illness, even though he knew only too well where his illness would lead him, and bore his cross with courage and serenity.
His goal against Greece in 1974 was the epitome of his talents, but further to that, he taught all those who played with or against him what tends to be so missing in today's commercially driven sports - fair play and respect for the opponent. And his sense of humour was unique.
We were each other's best man but my most memorable moment with Ritchie was during a skiing holiday in Marileva when we impersonated the Kessler twins. And my most treasured item is his last gift to me last Christmas - a framed photograph of me standing between him and his brother Edward. Exactly the same position as during my wedding 28 years ago, Ritchie my best man and Edward my witness.
There was elegance in Ritchie's great talent and he had class written all over him. Football for him was a passion that surpassed his own career and he kept physically active long after the end of his football days. His love of life came through whatever he did. Despite reaching the heights of what a football career in Malta could offer at the time, he was always uncomplicated and unpretentious, loved the simple life and was easily satisfied.
The way he bore his illness was a lesson in fortitude to all of us close to him. In the last few days before he entered hospital, I took Ritchie for a drive in the morning. He was in pain and did not look well. Yet he looked forward to a possible Juventus vs Arsenal game in the Champions League which we would go and watch together when I paid him a surprise visit in England, and after an operation the first thing he asked was: "Kif sejrin is-Sliema?"
Even though his wife Niki, sister Rose, his brothers Edward and Mario and their wives Lydia and Phyllis were all very caring of him, I'm sure they all feel as I do that Richie enriched us in his illness rather more than we enriched his final months here.
His funeral was unbelievable, a spirit-filled experience with the participation of people from all walks of life evidencing what Ritchie Aquilina was to lots of people - a friend and a gentleman.
Ritchie fought his illness with God beside him and he is now next to Him. We are momentarily apart but we'll meet again on the other side of this valley where He will change our tears of temporary loss to eternal joy. Happy birthday!
Xuereb - Bugeja
Our Lady of the Angels church in Bahar Ic-Caghaq was recently the wedding venue for Annabel Xuereb, daughter of Edgar and Mary Rose Xuereb, of Pembroke, and David Bugeja, son of Gaetano and Rose Bugeja, of San Gwann.
Fr Ray Scicluna officiated at the wedding, which was witnessed by the bride's brother, Kenneth Xuereb, and the groom's sister, Charmaine Bugeja. Andrew Grech carried out the duties of best man.
Francesca Xuereb, the bride's niece, and Abigail Micallef, the groom's niece, were flower-girls.
A reception was later held at The Palms, St Julian's. The couple spent their honeymoon in Scotland.
Married at Westminster Cathedral
Married recently at Westminster Cathedral, London, were Melanie Scicluna, daughter of France and Donna Scicluna, of St Julian's, and Frank Beechinor-Collins, son of James and Alice Beechinor-Collins of Currabinny, Ireland.
Melanie's sister, Samatha Scicluna-Chapman, was maid-of-honour, while Frank's daughter Alex was bridesmaid. Frank's son Francis was ring-bearer and his nephew Harry was pageboy.
The couple travelled in a romantic Bollywood car from the Cathedral to the reception held at the Institute of Directors in Pall Mall. The wedding guests followed in London's famous Routemaster buses. The couple spent their honeymoon n Barbados.
Melanie's grandfather, the late Gerald Scicluna, was originally from Zabbar. A top international chef, he was trained by the greatest chef of all time, Escoffier, at the London Ritz. He led the introduction of fine food to Malta in the late 1960s while head chef at the Dolmen Hotel.
For your diary
Ward u Zghar is organising dinner at Il-Fanal, Marsascala, on Friday at 8 p.m. For more information phone 9947-2868.
Caritas Co-operators are organising a day at The Victoria Hotel on Wednesday, with welcoming coffee at 10.30 a.m., a talk by Vanessa McDonald on "The benefits of journalism" at 11 a.m., Mass at noon and lunch at 1 p.m. For more information and bookings contact Marilouise Mifsud on 2133-0471, Josephine Farrugia on 2132-0016, Phyllis Ciappara on 2134-2910 or Mary Darmanin Demajo on 2131-3486.
The Malta Floral Club is organising a card and games party at the Plaza Hotel, Sliema, on February 14 at 10 a.m. Members and their friends are asked to book early by phoning Lily de' Conti Manduca on 2135-4160 or Monica Chetcuti on 2148-8089.