Maltese-Australian HistoriographyAuthor: Dr. Barry York, Europe-Australia Institute, garocon@pcug.org.au One area which lends itself to such co-operation is the field of oral history. The National Library of Australia has a rich archive of recorded interviews with Maltese in Australia. The following description and analysis of the Library's Maltese-Australian oral histories is based on my Guide to Maltese Migration Sources. It was written in 1997 but remains a good pointer to the extent to which Australia's leading informational institution takes the Maltese seriously: "As of April 1997, 48 individuals with relevance to the Maltese in Australia had been interviewed/recorded [by and for the National Library of Australia]. Only two of these - (the late) Hubert Opperman and Charles Price - have no Maltese ancestral connection. (Hubert Opperman was interviewed on two separate occasions). Thus, 46 individuals recorded have a Maltese connection, either through birth or through having one or two Maltese parents. All these Maltese-Australians were interviewed by me. The first was in Canberra in 1988. The Library's recordings of relevance to the Maltese in Australia go some way in capturing the diversity within the broad category of 'Maltese'. Of the 46 interviewees with a Maltese connection, 11 were born outside of Malta, namely: one in Egypt, one in London and 9 in Australia. Of the 35 interviewees born in Malta, five were from the Maltese island of Gozo. The Library has succeeded in developing Maltese-Australian recordings that reflect the main spread of Maltese settlements across Australia. Thirteen of the 46 Malta-born and second-generation Maltese-Australians settled in Melbourne; 13 in Sydney; 7 in Mackay (Queensland), 6 in Perth/Fremantle; 4 in Adelaide and two in Canberra. One interview, with a former High Commissioner, focused on his position as High Commissioner for Malta in Australia. He worked from Canberra but had not settled in Australia in the sense of being a migrant. Similarly, there is a reasonably good spread of migrant vintages. Of the 36 interviewees who migrated here (excluding the former High Commissioner), 20 arrived during the principal decade of Maltese immigration, the 1950s. Six interviewees were of 1940s vintage; two of 1960s vintage, one of 1970s and two of 1980s vintage. A highlight of the collection are interviews with pre-Second World War arrivals. These are: Emmanuel Attard (1916 migrant), Joe Vella (1920), Josephine M. Cauchi (1922), Antonia Bartolo (1925) and Joseph M. Camilleri (1928). It is interesting to analyse the the occupational status of each interviewee. Most Maltese who came here were working class people who worked in factories in Melbourne or Sydney. Again, this is reflected reasonably well in the range of persons interviewed. Seventeen were wage-workers; 13 professionals (teacher, journalist, estate agent, diplomat, etc.); 3 ran small businesses; three were farmers, and seven were housewives. These figures do not add up because of double occupational statuses. Two of those interviewed are Members of State Parliaments (New South Wales and Victoria) as well as having been, respectively, a school teacher and a wage-worker. Eight interviews had a specific cultural emphasis, seven of which were with Maltese poets in Australia. The eighth, with Joe Galea, focused on his role in "folk music".".
    
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