The Maltese Herald

The Maltese Herald is the only national weekly bi-lingual Maltese / English newspaper in Australia providing local news and news from Malta. Today it celebrates 45 years since it was first published. The following is a profile from MaltaMigration.com of the founding editor, Laurence Dimech:

Dimech was born in Hamrun but migrated to Australia in 1954. He returned to Malta in 1962 and worked for the Malta Allied Newspapers as senior sub-editor with II-Berqa. Dimech has been a pioneer of Maltese journalism in Australia, having served as sports editor with Lehen il-Malti and editor of the Malta News. He founded the national weekly The Maltese Herald which he also edited until 1971.

Dimech was appointed to the staff of the Malta High Commission in A and served as emigration attache and consul for Malta in NSW (1971-77). From 1977 till 1985, Dimech was appointed by the Australian Federal Government as director/co-ordinator of the Parramatta Migrant Resource Centre. He has served on various committees, advising govcnmmnts on settlement issues and ethnic affairs and was employed by the department of immigration & ethnic affairs as executive officer (1985-92).

Dimech is founder of the Melita Eagles Paramana Soccer Club where he served both as secretary and president for many years; secretary of the Maltese Welfare (NSW) Inc.; past president of the Maltese Community Council of NSW; and secretary of the Paramatta Baulkham Hill, Holroyd Migrant Resource Centre. In 1996 he was awarded the Manoel Vilhena award.

Dimech is part-time journalist/roadcaster with Radio 2EA and correspondent for Union Press Publications in Australia and editorial consultant with the Maltese Herald. He is currently employed as a community development officer with the La Valette Social Centre, Blacktown, NSW. Dimech is the author of Ageing Maltese - a mi nefield of need and neglect (1992) and editor of the Maltese Resource Directory...