By Vanessa Chircop
WHEN George Saliba became founding president of the Newport Maltese Association in 1973, he wasn’t thinking about awards or medals.
The Altona North resident who migrated to Australia in 1958 saw that there was a need for a place for members of the Maltese Community to come together and decided to do something about it.
“A group of us lived in Newport and at the time there was a lack of social things happening,” he said.
More than 30 years later and countless work in the community George has received a Medal of the Order of Australia for his services to the Maltese Community.
From 1973 to 1994 George was president of the Newport Maltese Association, during this time he was also Senior Vice-President of Maltese Community Council of Victoria which opened the Maltese Community Centre in Parkville in 1983 – of which George became chairman.
More recently at the spritely age of 74 George has resumed his position as president of the Newport Maltese Association after being vice president since 1994 and is the coordinator of the Newport Maltese Association Senior Citizen Group which has more than 300 members.
George told Star he was very proud to be recognised for his community work.
“(The community work) it’s keeping me going,” he said.
“I’m always thinking about how I can improve things in the community.”
The father and grandfather of two said his wife Lena has been a huge support to him.
“Coming to a new country we had our difficulties settling in but we managed okay.”
George believes it’s important to be proud of your heritage and keep cultural traditions going.
“Never be ashamed of your heritage,” he said.
“That is what really built Australia – 50 years ago you couldn’t even buy a pizza, but today look.”
