St Helena Maltese-Australian Social Club

Postal address: PO Box 219, Niddrie Delevery Centre, Niddrie, Victoria 3042

Date Club founded: 1980

Association Objectives. The main purpose for which the Association was formed is to celebrate the Feast of St Helena, the patron saint of Birkirkara, Malta.

Association History

The Maltese United Social Club, as the club was initially known, under founder Reno Grima used to celebrate this feast in 1979. At first he organised a Dinner Dance at Brookwood Reception and in 1980 he did it again but he organised a mass at the church of St. Mary Star of the Sea in West Melbourne. Three Maltese priests, Fr. Honoratus Galea, Fr. Joe Micallef, and Fr. Joe Briffa concelebrated mass and after the mass there was a procession with a picture of St. Helena in the church grounds.

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Later all those attending the church festivities went to North Melbourne Town Hall, for a concert when Reno saw this, he organised a meeting at 2nd Ave Altona and he as a ked Chev. Joe Attard to chair the meeting. That was the beginning of our club, which took the name of the club.

The First committee was formed and it consised of 17 committee members with Reno Grima as President, Paul Grima as Secretary and Vanni Armato as Treasurer.

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The Club has had 8 Presidents since its formation and 8 members of the committee who have since passed away, plus 2 Chaplains and Hon President.

One of the big activities the club was involved in was the birthday party for Carmena Armato who celebrated her 100th Birthday. The club invited her free of charge in conjunction with Vanni Armato and his friends. At the time it happened that the President of Malta H.E. Agatha Barbara was in Melbourne for an official visit, and we arranged through the Consul General in Victoria Mr. Frank Consiglio for her to attend.

Another one of the biggest concerts held at Broadmeadows Town Hall with Fr. David taking pru1 as well as Joe Joe Zepp. We had 2 shows in one day one matinee and one later in the evening which were a huge success. Sooner the club had organised a lot of functions, but the members were always looking for a feast day and the concert that we used to do at the show grounds which lasted until 2007. Now we have moved to celebrate St Helen’s Feast at the Croatian Church and the Hall in Ardeer.

Committee Elections. Elections are held every year.

Committee Members for 2011/12

President                                         Victor Bartolo
Vice President                                 Joe Busuttil
Secretary                                         Bernadette Luker
Asst. Secretary                               Joe Galea
Treasurer                                         Joe Borg
Asst. Treasurer                               Joe Abdilla
PRO                                                   Mary Bartolo
Function Organiser                        Mary Abdilla
Church Organiser                           Joe Grima

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