Friday, 27 February  2004  - ABC RADIO

Reporter: Judy Kelly

Presenter: Margaret El-Chami

Grace Attard

It's amazing what a series of black and white photos can depict. To celebrate this year's international women's day, the Mackay Botanic Gardens will host a photographic exhibition that captures true character of Mackay's original Maltese women.

Maltese community historian and exhibition curator, Carmel Barretta, says the hardships endured by the 12 Maltese women reflect the landscape of the time.

But she said the enduring qualities of these women was their hard work, love of family and deep religion - qualities that are so accuarately captured in this image of Grace Attard with her grandson.

Grace arrived in Brisbane with her mother Carmela in 1915 and they were the first Maltese females to settle in Mackay. Grace married Joe Attard when she was 16 and reared a family of four children, taking up the challenge of ensuring that faith and family tradition be instilled in the next generation.

Caterina Vella and Carmel Baretta

Caterina Vella's described by her community as sociable and hard-working with a jovial personality. Better known as Santija, she migrated to Mackay in 1929 and has a deep empathy with the land, having laboured on canefarms her whole working life.

According to Carmel Barretta, marriage, work and family commitments have tested Caterina but she accepted the challenge and embraced it wholeheartedly. Caterina and Grace are the two oldest surviving pioneering women at 93 and 84 respectively and remain close friends.

The exhibition will be on display at the Mackay Botanic Gardens from 6 March.

- Pioneering Maltese Women - pt 1

- Pioneering Maltese Women - pt 2