Our People

In 1956 my family decided to migrate to Australia from Malta. We always spoke Maltese at home and this always reminded us of our native language. I also speak fluent Italian and of course English.

I love my arts a play piano as a hobby.

My profession was in Fashion design, management and marketing and sales.

I officially retired from the workforce in 2007.

In 2002, I was introduced to the Maltese Community Council in Parkville, when I joined the Newport Senior Association.

My involvement in activities inspired me to continue working in the area of the Maltese Culture and Language.

In 2012, I was asked to join the MCCV by the President and was allocated the position of assistant Secretary.

As I got more involved, I worked closely with the President. We visited Nursing Homes in the Northern and Western Suburbs on a regular basis sometimes 3 homes a week. These seniors welcomed our visit and often delivered drinks and food which included Pastizzi, Maltese pastries, and Kinnie.

The work has always been demanding but always rewarding when you see some smiling face on someone who is on their own most of the time.

I was elected Vice President in 2018 and in 2022 elected President.

I am excited to be working with a great passionate team and together we hope to deliver some exciting programs for the community in the near future.

My parents, Frank and Tessie Sargent were born in Malta and emigrated to Australia in 1951. I grew up attending many Maltese events including festas and dinner dances and I am extremely proud of my Maltese heritage; speaking fluent Maltese and visiting Malta as often as opportunity permits to see family and friends.

My professional background includes local government, not-for-profit and membership organisations. I specialise in governance, risk, communications, stakeholder, and event management. I am currently the Chief of Staff at The Police Association Victoria and was previously the Manager Strategic Communications and Events at the Victorian Multicultural Commission. I have a broad reach network of community groups and organisations and I am also a Community Advisory Committee member on the Greater Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust and Northern Health.

I am passionate about contributing to the promotion of and meaningful engagement with our Maltese community. I am very excited to have joined the MCCV Executive Committee as Vice President, hoping to ‘give back’ some of that which has been provided with so much dedication and enthusiasm by preceding and existing members.

My original connection with the Maltese Community Council of Victoria Incorporated was in 2013 when Victor Borg who was the President at that time asked me to represent the council in the Anti-Gambling campaign which I did and later was asked to join the Council as Secretary for the Executive in 2015.

I have held the position up to the recent MCCV Executive election held September 2024 at which time I was elected to the position of Vice President.

My connection to the Parkville site goes a long way with my soccer playing days at George Cross in the early 60s when we used to play at Parkville and change in the back shed of the MSSP making it a full circle of life.

I joined the Maltese Community Council of Victoria Inc. in April 2022. During this time, I was working with the Memorja Project which provided an opportunity to record digitally stories from our community about their past.

My passion has always been about multiculturalism, the arts, Maltese history and preserving our language.

When I joined, the Council did not have a Treasurer and given that my profession is that of an Accountant, I was appointed to the position as Treasurer.

Apart from being a practicing accountant, I also hold a full Real Estate Agent Licence.

I am a registered SELF MANAGED Superannuation Fund auditor and Registered tax agent.

I am a Responsible Manager for an Australian Financial Service Licence and have held various board positions
The role of treasurer is challenging and demanding as it requires regular daily involvement, but it is also rewarding when you are working with a team with common interests.

My passion for the Maltese Culture gave me an opportunity to actively work with the Executive on various Cultural events and the opportunity to promote the Maltese Culture on various medium such as social media, websites and on SBS Radio.

I look forward to continue to work with the executive on Compliance, Accounting, and Cultural events.

I am honoured to have been approached to join the MCCV Executive as Secretary. My interests are involved in various groups as Secretary or Treasurer in the area of volunteering and raising funds for worthy causes such as the Stroke Ambulance project.

I come from a background in Marine Engineering, Emergency Response and Risk Management.

I am a Masters Degree graduate from Swinburne University in the field of Risk Management. I served 22 years in the Royal Australian Navy and 23 years as a First Responder Fire Officer at Toyota Motor Corporation.

For my volunteering work, I was awarded the National Australian Business Arts Foundation 2003 KPMG Advice Bank award.

I am an active member of my RSL Sub-Branch and State Vice President of the Naval Association of Australia.

I became involved with the MCCV in 1980 when I joined the Maltese literature Group Inc. and have been a member since, holding positions as President and currently secretary for a number of years.

In 1982 I enrolled in a Multicultural Studies course at the Phillip Institute, now Latrobe University gaining a diploma in 1988, as this was a part time course.

I became a member of the MCCV in 2002 holding the position of Welfare Director and was very much involved in the general welfare, helping the Maltese Community with whatever was required to help in the day to day requests. In recent years have been more involved in the volunteer visitors scheme, visiting our elderly in their homes and / or in the homes for the Aged, who may not get visits from family and friends often. This involves spending time talking to them which I find very rewarding for me and our elderly hearing stories of their years in Malta and when they came to Australia. I recommend others to take up this worthwhile cause. I also coordinate a monthly get together with Dementia Australia by taking a group of Maltese with early onset of dementia for a 2.1/2hrs social outing.

Being a member of the Executive of the MCCV I aim to keep supporting in the running of the Maltese Centre at Parkville, in whatever is required for the general good of our Maltese Community.

I’ve always been driven by a genuine passion for building strong relationships and guiding teams toward meaningful outcomes. With years of experience across Australia and the Asia-Pacific region, I’ve had the opportunity to work in diverse industries within the Electrical/Telecommunications sector. From small businesses to global enterprises, I’ve led high-performing teams and embraced challenges in sectors like Industrial, Commercial, Education, Retail, Government, and Defence. I’m also privileged to serve as a Board member of BICSI South Pacific, supporting the growth and development of our industry
What I enjoy most about my work is connecting with people and fostering a collaborative environment where everyone feels valued. I believe in a hands-on, consultative approach that encourages teamwork and creative problem-solving. Whether it’s overseeing projects or mentoring others, I take pride in creating an atmosphere where people can thrive, and goals can be met with integrity and excellence.

As the first non-Maltese generation in my family, I was raised with a deep connection to my heritage. My grandparents and parents instilled the values of our Maltese roots, ensuring that our Catholic faith, language, and cultural traditions were preserved, even in a world far from Malta. These values have become the cornerstone of my identity, shaping who I am and what I hold dear. I have a deep passion for sports, both as a spectator and an active participant, which has been a constant throughout my life. I still play cricket and proudly serve as an Executive Committee member of the St. John CC in Williamstown, continuing to foster my love for the game.

My journey has taken me to many corners of the globe, and I’m incredibly grateful for everything I’ve learned along the way. At the end of the day, what truly drives me is the satisfaction of seeing outcomes generated, teams thrive, and relationships grow stronger. I’m always looking for ways to make a difference—whether it’s through leading, mentoring, or just being there when someone needs a hand. My connection with the MCCV has always been close to my heart, and now feels like the right time to step up and bring my skills to help preserve and strengthen the values of our Maltese community in today’s ever-changing world.

My Maltese heritage comes from my mother’s side of the family (Cassar) . My Grandfather was an engineer in the merchant navy for the early part of the war and later joined the Airforce during the siege of Malta. Malta was devastated after the war and in 1949, my grandfather, the eldest son, made the tough decision to uproot his family and immigrate to Australia. They settled in Ascot Vale and continued to send financial support to family back home to help with rebuilding lives. I grew up nurtured by the strong values of hard work, family unity and a Maltese heritage. Values that I carry in my heart always.

I bring a strong skill set to the MCCV. I was raised Catholic and went to school at St Johns Braybrook (later Chisolm College). I have extensive business experience, having managed my own electrical Contracting Business and worked in the Altona Petro-chemical area for many years prior to going back to study and completing a Bachelor of Commerce at Monash University and later a Senior Executive MBA at the Melbourne Business School. I am a senior manager at Consumer Affairs Victoria where I specialise in business development, continuous improvement, regulatory reform and implementation.

I am honoured to be able to serve on the board of the MCCV especially with such a strong and dedicated team of executive colleagues and will work to keep the vision of our predecessors alive and thriving for the next generation of leaders.

In my early days , when I arrived in Australia, I lived in the country town of Morwell. From there I moved to Traralgon before coming to Metropolitan Melbourne.

I worked as a the medical secretary for many years and have worked with organizations such as St Vincent De Pual Conference volunteering to perform Charity work and worked in the op shop

I also was a volunteer with the Soup Van.

In the past, I have assisted the executives during functions and now I have the privilege to be elected to serve on the Executive Board.

I look forward to be part of the team to promote our Maltese Culture, heritage and language.

I am a proud first-generation Australian with Maltese heritage. My maternal grandparents migrated to Australia in 1957 with their seven children aboard the ship Auralia.

Growing up in a rich cultural environment, I learned to speak Maltese at an early age and continue to enjoy using the language. I am also eager to learn to read and write Maltese, and I love to cook traditional Maltese dishes, celebrating the flavours and traditions passed down through generations.

Professionally, I am a dedicated educator with three degrees—two in education and one in psychology.

My volunteer work began when my boys were young, helping out at the Williamstown Juniors Football Club and later at the CYMS Williamstown Football Club, where I continue to contribute today. I was honoured to receive the Tony Williamson Award in 2019 for my services to the club. I believe volunteering is a wonderful way to stay connected socially and give back to the community.

I am a member of the Missionary Society of St. Paul.

The MSSP have been carrying out their ministry in Australia for almost 75 years.

After completing my studies in Malta, I was ordained a priest at St. John’s Co Cathedral Valletta in 1985.

Shortly after I was assigned to Pakistan to join others in the mission there. After finishing my sabbatical studies at the Ateneo de Manila in the Philippines, I was tasked in helping start the MSSP in the Philippines.

In 2015 I joined the Australian Province. I reside in Parkville as Maltese Chaplain.

I represent the Missionary Society of St. Paul on the MCCV executive council.