These Embassy receptions may look effortless, with everything working like clockwork, but we know it takes a great deal of organizing to make things work smoothly.  "But isn't it always the same people?" friends ask.  True. But don't we all have friends and acquaintances who fall into different catagories?  School friends whom you may rarely see but with whom you so easily catch up even if you haven't seen each other for years. You have shared so many experiences and have a common background. Then there are colleagues at work. You may never see each other outside working hours but again, there are so many ties which bind you to them, to some more than others.  There are friends with whom you have similar interests: films, theatre, music, books, travel.  The list is almost endless. Then there are friends and acquaintances whom you meet at receptions. They are an important part of my life too so, unless I really cannot make it, I usually turn up. They, too, are part of the rich tapestry of life.

Australia's national day falls in early February and each year it rains, and so it did this year too, though not as ferociously as it did last year,  when I stood around in very wet high heels that evening. 

In her speech Ms Lambert said that it was also a day to reflect on the history of Australia and on contemporary Australia, their achievements as a nation and people and also on their disappointments and to reflect on the future and how as a people, they can do better.

H.E. then announced the recipients of medals of the Order of Australia which honours members of the community who have stood out through theirpersonal endeavours and experiences. One of them was Virgil Bugeja from the Friends of Australia in Malta who received the medal for his services to the community.

I would like to mention the recipients of other awards too because I found their work most impressive. Australian of the Year is Rosie Batty, a campaigner against family violence whose 11-year-old son was killed in February last year by his father.  The Young Australian of the Year is Drisana Levitzke-Gray, the fifth generation in her family to be born deaf who is dedicating her life to helping other deaf people and advocating their human rights. As Ms Lambert pointed out in her speech. "Drisana is the embodiment of the concept of 'deaf gain', not 'hearing loss', inspiring the deaf community, and encouraging others to accept diversity."

The award of The Senior Australian is Jackie French, an author and conservationist, and a tireless advocate for children with learning difficulties. "As the current national Children's Laureate, Jackie is travelling the country to promote literacy and share the transformational power of reading, creativity and story-telling in the lives of young Australians," Ms Lambert told her guests.

Last but not least the Local Hero is Juliette Wright, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of GIVIT, an online portal she created to safely connect and inspire a network of givers, and to support communities by ensuring local donors give to local residents in need. "In 2011, when Queensland was hit by devastating floods, GIVIT became the state government's official website for matching donors and recipients - with 1.8 million hits resulting in 33,500 goods matched in three weeks. Juliette's positive 'can do' attitude inspires others to embrace philanthropy and she has just launched GIVIT Kids, a safe online platform for children to give new or pre-loved belongings."  Certainly, all are excellent role models to be emulated.

On Australia Day the unique status of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples gets a special mention. Ms Lambert said that The National Australia Day Council seeks to play a part in the journey of Reconciliation by helping all Australians to move forward with a better understanding of their shared past and importantly how this affects the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people today and how a better future together can be built.

Ms Lambert also spoke of the Maltese community in Australia "which has been and continues to be one of the major success stories in the evolution of multicultural Australia," said Ms Lambert. Over 164,999 people in Australia identify themselves as having Maltese heritage, and more than 50,000 people left the shores of Malta and Gozo from the 1950s and onwards to seek a new life for themselves and their families in Australia. Ms Lambert remarked that these strong people-to people links have underpinned the depth and real warmth between Australia and Malta. "We continue to build on the relationship, and it was very pleasing to reflect on the past year's developments in expanding links in the areas of culture, arts and education." Ms Lambert then gave a few examples of this cooperation between the two countries: The visit by the delegation of young trainee teachers from the Australian Catholic University; the collaboration with the Argotti Botanic Gardens and the Australian National Botanic Garden in Camberra who collaborated to create an Australian plant collection to mark Malta's 50^th anniversary of independence and also the anniversary of the establishment of formal diplomatic relations between Australia and Malta.

The Australian High Commissioner pointed out that our two countries have also stood together in the dark times: during the two world wars and the social and political upheavals of the 20^th century when Malta was the nursemaid of the Mediterranean and safe haven for those in need. Then more recently there was the evacuation of Libya in 2011 and again in July and August of 2014 which included Australians.

The future? This year will be the 100^th anniversary of the Gallipoli campaign and the story of the Anzacs soldiers who fought beside so many soldiers in that terrible and costly campaign, said Ms Lambert. Many of the sick and wounded were brought to Malta for care, over 55,000 troops and 2,500 officers. The Anzac Day ceremony in Malta will be held on 25 April at the Pietà Military Cemetery, the High Commissioner announced. As to the 100^th anniversary of the Gallipoli campaign the Australian High Commission is collaborating with a range of Maltese cultural and heritage organizations to create over more than two weeks a range of Anzac activities that look in particular at the impact on Malta and the Maltese people. There will be visits by the Young Endeavour Sailing ship, a replica of Captain Cook's ship that discovered Australia in 1788, and HMAS Anzac.

A great deal of information and details about these and other events are on the High Commission's webpage for those interested.

Ms Lambert's last words are particularly significant in these days of violence and wars. She said: "Australia and Malta share a commitment to the upholding of democratic values, to human rights and equal opportunity, the rule of law, and to the promotion of peace and security. We look forward to working together with our Maltese friends and colleagues here, and in international fora such as the UN and the Commonwealth, to promote a better and safer world for our peoples and people of other countries." Such sentiments were never needed more than they are now when the whole world seems to be in turmoil.

The Australian High Commissioner continues to prove herself a gracious hostess, as well as an intelligent and artistic one. She is obviously enjoying her posting in Malta and is committed to her work.

A most pleasant and relaxed reception.