H.E. DDr Petra Schneebauer will, unfortunately, be the last resident ambassador of Austria to Malta for the embassy is going to close down. Funds are always limited and it seems that with those funds a choice has to be made where to open these embassies, at least this is what I heard on the grapevine. Whatever the reason Austria could not have chosen a better ambassador for this final posting. She has left an excellent impression on the Maltese. DDr Schneebauer, the lady with the two doctorates, has so many qualities to admire.
Mr Michael Bianchi, Honorary Consul-General of Austria, gave a farewell reception in her honour in the gardens of his country home, The Tower, in Wardija. This house was built by Marquis Nicholas De Piro, 'as his folly, in the '60s.' Mr Bianchi tells me that he has lived in this property since the age of 20. 'The house itself is built as an old Maltese Torri and you could be excused for thinking it is much older.' He carried out very extensive works and the larger part of the property, including all the lower parts, were added by him. Remarks about this home are superfluous because if Mr Bianchi doesn't have a beautiful place to live in then who does?
He is another person who doesn't do things by half and the organization of this farewell party - from the bars, to the food, music and singers - was impeccable.
Michael has that quality which is in short supply in the Maltese character: charm. Define it as you wish. To me it is a civilized quality which is not easily defined but which makes life more pleasant. The Austrian ambassador has it too and both have it in abundance. They are both life enhancers.
When it was time for speeches, which were kept short, it was moving to hear DDr Schneebauer and her daughter Katharina give theirs entirely in Maltese and a clear, precise Maltese, too. I wonder who coached them.
Mr Bianchi together with his partner Nadya, a petite blonde Russian-Ukrainian, and his children, Philip and Sophia said that we were bidding the ambassador, her daughter and mother farewell with mixed feelings. On the one hand we are happy that she is returning to her homeland but also saddened as we are going to miss her vibrant personality, her charm and her warmth. He said he admires her steely determination but always accompanied by persuasive argumentation and charm, her absolute honesty in deeds and thoughts, her openness and frankness when discussing complicated and difficult issues, her willingness to debate and to listen and her immense sense of loyalty and friendship. "I always found Petra totally informed and prepared on any subject we had on our agenda and this enabled us, working as a team, to exchange views in a constructive and decisive manner." Mr Bianchi went on to say that during the last four years the ambassador had lost her beloved father and both his mother and his father had passed away , too. "Together with other challenges we both faced in that period, this also created an environment which sealed and strengthened what would anyhow develop into a strong and true friendship." He said that Petra has a natural ability to attract and endear people towards her. He spoke of the admiration and complete devotion of the ambassador to her daughter and mother "which demonstrates what a special person she is."
***
Mr Bianchi will be taking over many of the functions which so far have been looked after by the embassy. He then surprised guests by inviting Katharina to take the floor. In the four years that Her Excellency has been in Malta those of us who know her have also made friends with Katharina who was six years old when she came to Malta.
Katharina delivered her short speech entirely in clear Maltese. She told us that once she heard that she would be moving to Malta with her mother she imagined Malta would be a very tiny island, not very far from Vienna, full of palm trees, sandy beaches and no traffic. "Kemm kelli zball!" adding that she had never imagined that such a small island could be so beautiful. She went to Verdala International School and like her mother she was going to leave behind many friends. She hopes they would be visiting Malta as Malta would always remain in their heart. We all loved this little girl's short and sincere speech especially those of us who had watched her grow in the four years they spent in Malta.
***
It was the turn of HE the Austrian ambassador with the two doctorates to address guests. She said that the professional highlights of her stay in Malta were the two state visits of Dr Heinz Fischer, President of Austria who came to Malta in April 2012 a visit which was then reciprocated by former President Dr George Abela who visited Vienna in January 2014. "Numerous Austrian Ministers came to Malta and vice-versa. All this underlines the close friendship and mutual respect for each other," she said. She then mentioned the two cultural highlights of her stay in Malta: the initiative to send four very promising Maltese opera singers to the Salzburg Mozarteum International Summer Academy and the concert given by these singers last September at the Manoel theatre.
Dr Schneebauer then told us that she would be the last Austrian resident ambassador but that we can still count on her support in the future. She then thanked all those who attended the reception and gave a great grazzi hafna to Mr Bianchi for his support, valuable advice and for having opened his home for that evening's party.
She then ended by pronouncing the first words of our national anthelm "Lil-din l-art helwa".
We wish Her Excellency good luck. May she career continue to thrive. She is an enormous asset to Austria.