The majority of Malta-born migrants arrived in Australia 50, 60 years ago. There are no arguments about this fact. Malta has since progressed enormously. Hence, there appears no reason for the Maltese to seek permanent migration to faraway places. Indeed, this is a good thing because migration is always very stressful on the family and the nation.

It is not accurate, therefore, to only mention that the Maltese community in the diaspora, especially in Australia, is getting old. According to the latest Australian census, there are now more than 150,000 of Maltese descent there. Indeed, the composition of the community is changing not just ageing.

We are indeed facing many difficulties. To plan for a more coordinated better future, we need to understand where we are and appreciate our past.

The history of migration is littered with obstacles that have hindered our drive for new ideas. Many have crystal-lised in time, others are victims of the colonial mentality.

To migrate to a distant destination, you must have ambition, imagination and bravery. Coming from a little island, it was not easy to integrate into a continent’s way of life. We wasted many years struggling with the process of forced assimilation. In the face of all this, we maintained a sense of patriotism. In ways, we became better Maltese.

It was a matter of survival. To survive, in those dark, early days, we had to organise our Maltese centres, our organisations, our football/sporting clubs, to maintain our faith practised here among many other religions. These brave efforts became our survival tools.

After the 1970s, with the assistance of the Australian Federal Government, we were encouraged to move in favour of assimilation. Multiculturalism was the way forward.

We need to understand the present and move cautiously to the future

We managed to keep our children sheltered as much as possible from the difficulties and, at times, discrimination we as migrants faced during our early years.

We raised our children to remember their heritage and to accept and embrace Australia. Was this not what was asked from us as new Australians?

Indeed, in this regard, the mission was accomplished.

Some fence-sitters are urging the present crop of veterans to cede because they conclude they are glued to their seats. Their time is up. Just disappear and it will happen. A new wave of youngsters is ready to take over.

This is the utopia being bandied around. We need to be very careful and practical. This could lead to the weakening if not the sudden collapse of the current Maltese community’s structures.

Transition to a youthful-led community in Australia was one of the main subjects during both the 2010 and the 2015 Conventions for Maltese Living Abroad. They managed, to a certain extent, to convince the Foreign Affairs Ministry that a wave of enthusiastic youths was ready to change the scene. It did not happen. So many wasted years.

We are at the crossroads. It happens between generational changes. Grandstanding at the last two conventions and warped directions by bureaucrats complicated the issues.

We need to understand the present and move cautiously to the future. There is no need to step into each other’s way. This is why we need to understand the present and firmly believe that, between the past and the present, in most instances, there must be continuity.

Gender or age does not give you the right to lead. You need a purpose. You need determination and staying power.

Being young does not mean you are innovative and progressive. Being old does not mean you must be wise and knowledgeable.

The Maltese community in Australia witnessed past and present examples of youths taking a leading part in our organisations, centres and clubs. Is there a better or a more effective way forward? I am sure there is.

To achieve it we need to work together to ensure continuity not by building walls and divisions.

Lawrence Dimech is co-editor of the magazine The Voice of the Maltese in Australia.

This is a Times of Malta print opinion piece