Julie Owens (Parramatta, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Small Business) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This year I had the pleasure of celebrating Australia Day with the Maltese Community Council of New South Wales. The Maltese community celebrated the day in Merrylands at the Holroyd Centre with the theme 'We are one but we are many', a fitting tribute to Parramatta and Western Sydney's multiculturalism. Dr Barry York, OAM, a Maltese historian, delivered the key note address, giving a fine illustration of his family's experience migrating to Australia 60 years ago. The Maltese choir, directed by Marisa Previtera, with 15-year old Maltese Australian soloist A-Lee, delivered a fantastic performance.

Charmaine Cassar delivered a speech on behalf of the Maltese Australia Youth Committee. The future of the Maltese Australian community is in good hands with young adults like Charmaine. There were also a number of Maltese Australian recipients of the Order of Australia in attendance: Mr Sam Vella, Mr Lino Vella, Mrs Doris Athanasio, Mr Lawrence Dimech and Mrs Nancy Borg Serg.

Thank you to the hard work of the Maltese Community Council of New South Wales who organised the day—in particular, Lawrence Dimech, the president—and the Maltese Community Council Australia Day Celebration Organising Committee, including Emanuel Camilleri, Marelene Dimech, Frances Montesin, Charmaine Cassar and Marisa Previtera. Well done and thank you.