Besides serving as Ambassador of Malta in China and High Commissioner in Australia, Mr Gauci played a leading role in the re-organisation of the Maltese diplomatic service and also served as Secretary of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.
In a statement, the Maltese Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Trade Promotion referred to Mr Gauci’s achievements throughout his career, initially as a public officer and subsequently as a diplomat from Independence in 1964. These achievements were pivotal in many of the milestones attributed to Maltese diplomacy. Among these, the statement highlighted Mr Gauci’s canvassing for Malta’s election to the United Nations Security Council in 1983/1984 and his role as President of the Council in November 1983. Furthermore, Ambassador Gauci represented Malta at various high-level meetings as Malta’s Representative at the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe.
The Ministry’s statement recognised that Mr Gauci’s advisory role to three Prime Ministers and three Foreign Ministers, under whom he served throughout his career, will be remembered as a true legacy to the role of an exemplary diplomat.
Born on 25 April 1931, Victor was the son of Joseph Gauci and Rose Gauci. He completed studies at St Michael’s Training College, Malta in 1947, the Royal University of Malta in 1950 and Columbia University, New York in 1964-1965. He married Margaret Seaborn in 1958.
Mr Gauci started his career as Executive Officer (1951-1958) and later Higher Executive Officer (1959-65). He served as Counsellor at the Ministry of Commonwealth and Foreign Affairs and at the Mission of Malta to United Nations from 1966 to 1970. He served as Counsellor and Consul-General at the Embassy of Malta in Rome from 1971 to 1973. He then served as Permanent Representative Office of the United Nations at Geneva in 1973 and between 1979 and 1985.
Mr Gauci was appointed Malta’s High Commissioner to Australia in 1987, and was also accredited High Commissioner to New Zealand, and Ambassador to Japan and the Republic of Korea in 1988. He retired from active diplomacy in 1996.
On behalf of the Maltese community in Victoria, the MCCV President and Executive Committee members extend their sincere condolences and deepest sympathies to Mr Gauci’s family.
[Sources: Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Trade Promotion; Prabook.com.]
