| MALTESE OWN BAND PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY INC. |
| 25th ANNIVERSARY |
| The Maltese Own band Philharmonic Society Inc. of Melbourne recently held a reunion of past band members and a BBQ on Sunday 9th June. This was held at the Maltese Cultural Centre in Albion Melbourne. The reunion was organised as part of the Maltese Own Bands� 25th Anniversary celebrations that the band is currently celebrating. The event featured a stunning display of trophies, gifts and awards given to the band over the past 25 years. The trophies and awards, which were too numerous to count, filled the front of the large stage area as well as being crowded onto to two very large tables below the stage. Amongst the trophies was a specially made large banner, which spread out across the length of the stage, which commemorated the bands 25th Anniversary. There was also a display of musical instruments, which represented all the instruments that are played in the band as well as a display of past photographs and also a display of current projects being undertaken by the committee. The centrepiece of the display was the bands new Bass Drum, which was custom, built and arrived from England just in time for this event. The function started of with the Master of Ceremonies, Mr. Joe Portelli introducing the President, Mr. Solero Xuereb, who then welcomed all the guests, current and past band members and their families. The guests included many representatives of the many Associations, Feast Committees and organisations that have supported the Maltese Own Band over the past 25 years. Mr. Xuereb then introduced the founder of the Maltese Own Band, Mr Joe Muscat who gave a short speech and a story about how the band started. Mr. Portelli then introduced Fr. Dennis Carabott, Provincial of the Missionary Society of St. Paul who is also the Chaplain of the band. Fr. Dennis spoke briefly about the band and about his desire as a young child to learn an instrument and join a band. Fr. Dennis then gave a special and unique blessing to the display of musical instruments. He then showed his musical talent by leading the guests in a traditional Maltese song while banging on the new bass drum. Ms. Margaret Curmi, as chairperson of the Maltese Own Band Youth Group, then presented the committee with an enlargement of the bands recently taken official band photo. Mr. Portelli then presented Guy Deguara, Vice President of the Maltese Community Council of Victoria, with a smaller band photo to be displayed at the �Centru Malti� in Parkville Melbourne. With the official part of the function over, everybody then enjoyed a delicious Barbeque lunch prepared by both the committee and Youth Group under the supervision of the bands Treasurer, Mr. Joe Ellul. |
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| Blessing of the Banner that was donated to our assocication by Anthony Mifsud-Bonnici in December 2002. |