Tonight, at the Manoel Theatre, which was the scene 50 years ago of the launch of a new voluntary organisation pledged to safeguard Malta’s cultural heritage and natural environment, Din l-Art Ħelwa will be celebrating its birth with a concert.

To understand its importance, one has to cast one’s mind back to the mood in newly-independent Malta five decades ago. In 1965, Malta was living a new renaissance. Optimism was high. The economy was on the move. Everything seemed possible. There was a palpable air of hope and excitement in the air about the huge challenges that lay ahead.

However, there were also concerns that the building industry, which was enjoying one of the greatest expansions in its history, could threaten the country’s national heritage and natural environment. A group of far-sighted individuals, led by Judge Maurice Caruana Curran, motivated by love of their country and the need to do something about its preservation, inspired the establishment of the appropriately named Din l-Art Ħelwa – ‘This Fair Land’.

The founding members of Din l-Art Ħelwa were right to be concerned as events have only too sadly shown with successive governments, both Nationalist and Labour, failing to pay adequate attention to Malta’s built architectural heritage, its natural environment and heritage landscape.

For Din l-Art Ħelwa, the past 50 years have consisted of an implacable war of attrition waged against greed and misgovernance by those placed over us.

In the spirit of the times and reflecting the motivation which led to its creation, initially Din l-Art Ħelwa was primarily a lobbying organisation. It provided – as it does to this day – informed and constructive criticism, enjoining those who have the power to make decisions to be guided by the overriding need to safeguard Malta’s cultural heritage and natural environment. However unpalatable that was to successive governments, it always spoke openly without fear or favour. For this, it earned respect and admiration.

It went on to practise what it bluntly preached to negligent governments by taking on the role of hands-on conservation and restoration projects. Quite simply, the 40 national heritage sites, monuments and landmarks, including outstanding medieval, 17th, 18th and 19th century historic sites, which Din l-Art Ħelwa has saved would have perished and been lost to the nation.

With no government funding but only with what it could raise from generous individuals and corporate sponsors, together with the power and inspiration of thousands of volunteers (about 35,000 voluntary hours a year), theirs has been a remarkable achievement.

Of the historic sites Din l-Art Ħelwa has saved, 18 are today held in trust or guardianship, including the magnificent Our Lady of Victory, in Valletta, being restored to its former glory. All these properties are open to the public, used regularly, conserved and kept alive.

None of this would have been possible without the leadership and commitment of Din l-Art Ħelwa’s executive presidents. The early leadership and inspiration of the founder president, Judge Caruana Curran, was key. But Tony Bonanno, Martin Scicluna, Martin Galea, Petra Caruana Dingli and now Simone Mizzi (the daughter of the founder president), have all played their part.

Din l-Art Ħelwa is the conscience of the nation. It is a voice of reason built on passion for the country’s rich patrimony, bound to our nation’s history and safeguarding our cultural, artistic and natural heritage. Long may that continue.