High Commissioner H.E. Mr. Mario Farrugia Borg visits Victoria

The High Commissioner of Malta for Australia, His Excellency Mario Farrugia Borg, travelled
to Victoria, between 16 and 21 December 21, to meet with Australian’s Government officials,
the Maltese associations, the Maltese communities, and other private organisation. The
objective of this visit was to keep the Maltese communities and organizations connected to
the Maltese Islands.

The High Commissioner paid a courtesy call to the Governor of Victoria, H.E. the Hon Linda
Dessau AC. They discussed bilateral relations between Malta and Australia and the strong
ties borne by people-to-people connections.

During the visit in Victoria, the High Commissioner, accompanied by Consul General Chirelle
Ellul Sciberras, had the opportunity to hold other meetings with prominent Members of the
Federal and State Parliament, as well as Councilor Dr. Victoria Borg of Brimbank and Ms Kellie
O’Callaghan, Mayor of Latrobe City. H.E. Mr Farrugia Borg thanked Member for St. Albans,
Ms. Natalie Suleyman MP, Hon Melina Bath MP Member of Easter Victoria, and the Hon
Darren Chester, Member for Gippsland in the Federal Parliament, for their continued
interest and support of the Maltese community in Victoria and their initiatives towards a
cohesive multicultural community in the state.

The High Commissioner and the Consul-General participated in a number of Maltese
community events in Melbourne and Morwell. These included a Christmas reception by the
Maltese Cultural Association of Victoria in Albion, the Maltese Community Council of Victoria
with a performance by the MMG Concert Band of Victoria, and the Maltese Community in
Latrobe Valley. On these occasions, H.E. Mr Farrugia Borg thanked the Presidents of the
respective associations, Chev. Peter Paul Portelli, Marlene Ebejer and Mario Sammut, for
their tireless work to maintain the Maltese connection alive and well. The High
Commissioner also had the opportunity to greet the local Maltese communities and brief
them about the progress in Malta in various fields while recalling the importance of holding
dear Maltese values and being proud of having Maltese roots. During this visit, the High
Commissioner also had the pleasure to meet with representatives of M.U.S.E.U.M. in
Melbourne.

While in Morwell, H.E. Mr Farrugia Borg revisited the Maltese Museum in Latrobe Valley,
that had been inaugurated by the latter in February 2020. The Honorary Consul of Malta in
La Trobe Valley and President of the Maltese Community Centre Latrobe Valley, Mr Mario
Sammut had been the fundamental in the realisation of this Museum: a unique project that
showcase Maltese history, art and culture in Australia. The High Commissioner and Consul
General also paid a visit the Migrant Monument at the Gippsland Immigration Park that
commemorates the hundreds of migrants that contributed to Gippsland and its region,
including Maltese migrants.

In other business and investment-oriented meetings, the High Commissioner H.E. Mr
Farrugia Borg, convened with the Victoria Branch of the Australian Maltese Chamber of
Commerce, Inc. (AMCC) at the Consulate General. Plans for future business delegations to
Malta for businesses seeking to invest in or expand operations to the Maltese Islands were
discussed. The High Commissioner with the Consul General also met with Mr Marc Cini,
Founder of Hallmarc real estate developers in Melbourne, with a view to explore
opportunities for Hallmarc to invest in the real estate sector in the Maltese Islands.

The High Commissioner also met with members of the Preca Society in Melbourne
(M.U.S.E.U.M.) and expressed his appreciation for their work in nurturing young minds with
virtues essential in leading a holy life.