Josephine Zammit

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Josephine Zammit MBE was a Maltese broadcaster and community worker in New South Wales, Australia.

Early life and migration

Born to Paul and Pauline Darmenia in 1925, the youngest of a family of six, Josephine qualified as a teacher in 1945 at the age of 20 years. She married Charles Zammit, a building contractor, in 1947, which ended her teaching career (as used to be the case in those days). She migrated to Australia in 1952 when she was 27 years old, and was soon involved in social work.

Community involvement

Josephine went to Malta and became involved in the Single Women Migrants Scheme of the early 1960s, becoming a member of the Malta Emigrants Commission. She accompanied five girls to Australia in 1962 under this scheme. As the Australian representative of the Malta Emigrants Commission she helped newly arrived migrants. In a single year they nominated 66 Maltese migrants and helped them to find accommodation and work.

Josephine was also involved in other areas involving Maltese migrants. She organized the Maltese Australian Women’s Association in the early 1970s and later helped form the Maltese-Australian Social Welfare Association. In addition she organised ‘Malta Day’ at Goulburn College of Advanced Education, and gave talks about Maltese culture. She was also:

  • Foundation member of the NSW Ethnic Communities Council
  • Member of the NSW Ethnic Consultative Council (later Ethnic Affairs Commission),
  • Member of the Australian Ethnic Affairs Council

Broadcasting

Josephine is best known as an ethnic radio personality in Sydney. This started in 1975 when Mr Al Grassby, the then Minister for Immigration, announced the launching of 2EA Radio station. Josephine Zammit was appointed coordinator of the Maltese program. This was on a voluntary basis. Broadcasting started on 9 June 1975 in Sydney and Melbourne.

Awards and recognitions

  • Josephine received the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Medal and the MBE in 1978.

She always regarded herself as Maltese and returned to Malta frequently (every 3 years).

Sources

  • Barry York, Josephine Zammit MBE: A Maltese Woman in Australia, MATZN Pty Ltd, Summer Hill, 1989.
  • Barry York, Community Profiles: The Maltese Herald, 12 June, 1987.
  • Attard, Fr Lawrence, Profiles