Material connected with the 1916 ‘Maltese of New Caledonia’ migrant incident is being exhibited in the Gozo Philatelic Society showcase on level -1, Il-Ħaġar Museum, St George’s Square, Victoria.

The incident involved a boatload of 214 Maltese agricultural labourers who were turned away in 1916 at their intended port of disembarkation, Sydney, Australia, when they were classified as ‘prohibited immigrants’ after having failed a dictation test while their boat was offshore at Melbourne.

The centenary of the incident is being commemo­rated through an international double card issued jointly by the society and its counterpart in Canberra, Australia.

The cards, personalised stamps and handstamps were designed by Anthony Grech.

Cards will be distributed to anyone interested after they are returned back from Australia, where they are being stamped at an exhibition taking place there.

For enquiries e-mail secretary@stamps-gozo.org.

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