Maltese Historical Association of Australia

11/06/2026

Book review: 'Sunshine and Shade: The Story of a Lifetime' by Lawrence Dimech

Reviewed by Barry York

There is a rich tradition of migrant autobiography in Australia, but few lives have been as closely intertwined with the development of a community as that of Lawrence Dimech. 'Sunshine and Shade: The Story of a Lifetime' is far more than a personal memoir. It is a history of the Maltese community in New South Wales told through the experiences of one of its most energetic, influential and respected pioneers.

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Born in Ħamrun, Malta, in 1936, Dimech migrated to Sydney in 1954 during the peak years of post-war Maltese migration. Like many newcomers, he faced the challenges of adapting to a new country, finding employment and building a future. Unlike most, however, he would go on to become one of the most significant figures in the development of Maltese community life in Australia.
One of Dimech's earliest and most enduring achievements was co-founding the Melita Eagles Football Club in 1956. At a time when many newly arrived migrants were searching for a sense of belonging, the club provided a focal point for community identity, friendship and pride. It was only the first of many pioneering contributions that would shape Maltese-Australian life for decades to come.

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Dimech's record of service is extraordinary. He became the first editor of the Maltese Herald, a newspaper that served the Maltese community from 1961 until 2013 and became one of the most important voices of Maltese Australia. He later served as the first Consul-General of Malta in New South Wales, representing the interests of Maltese Australians and strengthening links between Malta and Australia. He was also the inaugural director and coordinator of the Parramatta Migrant Resource Centre, established by the Department of Immigration and Ethnic Affairs, where he played a leading role in assisting migrants from many backgrounds to settle successfully into Australian society.

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What makes 'Sunshine and Shade' particularly valuable is that it combines personal reminiscence with community history. Dimech began writing the autobiography, looking back across nearly nine decades of life and service. In doing so, he captures a period when migration from Malta was at its height and documents the struggles faced by migrants during those formative years. The book vividly recalls a time when government support was often limited and communities had to rely heavily on self-help, volunteerism and collective effort.

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The contents reveal the astonishing breadth of Dimech's involvement. Readers are taken through his experiences in journalism, diplomacy, migrant welfare, football administration, community organisation and cultural preservation. Along the way he introduces a remarkable cast of personalities who helped shape Maltese-Australian life. The memoir therefore serves not only as a personal story but also as a valuable documentary record of a community's growth and development.

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Particularly significant is Dimech's account of the long campaign for reforms and services that improved the lives of Maltese migrants. He traces the development of important initiatives including dual citizenship arrangements, reciprocal social security and health agreements, student exchange schemes, and the establishment of the Council of Maltese Living Abroad. These achievements strengthened ties between Malta and its diaspora while providing practical benefits for thousands of families.

Throughout the book, Dimech emphasises the importance of unity, community service and cultural identity. His own life exemplifies those values. Whether editing newspapers, building organisations, advocating for migrants or representing Malta abroad, he consistently sought to strengthen community institutions and create opportunities for others.

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The memoir is written in an accessible style and is enriched by photographs, personal reflections and historical anecdotes. While Maltese Australians will naturally find much that resonates with their own experiences, the book also speaks to broader themes of migration, identity, belonging and civic contribution. It offers an illuminating account of how migrant communities helped shape modern Australia while preserving important connections to their homeland.

'Sunshine and Shade: The Story of a Lifetime' is therefore much more than the autobiography of one individual. It is a tribute to the resilience, achievements and collective spirit of the Maltese community in Australia. Lawrence Dimech has produced a work that preserves an important chapter of Australian multicultural history and honours the generations who built new lives while maintaining a deep attachment to their heritage.

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For anyone interested in migration history, multicultural Australia, or the Maltese experience in New South Wales, this book is highly recommended. It is a valuable historical record, an inspiring personal story, and a fitting testament to a man whose life has been devoted to service, leadership and community building.
What emerges most clearly throughout the book is Dimech's unwavering belief in community, family and service.

While the memoir documents an extraordinary public life, it never loses sight of the personal relationships that sustained him. This is evident from the dedication, where he honours his wife Marlene, his sons Mark and Matthew, and his late friend and long-time collaborator Mark Caruana.

The dedication sets the tone for a work that is as much about gratitude and human connection as it is about achievement. Throughout the memoir, Dimech repeatedly acknowledges the individuals, families and organisations that helped build the Maltese community in Australia.

For further information, contact: [email protected]

15/05/2026

THE MALTESE WHO SANG WITH VERA LYNN

My Maltese* dad, Loreto, sang with Vera Lynn.

This autographed photograph was sent to him by Vera Lynn in 2009, during the final stage of his life. I had written to her hoping that a personal message from someone connected to such an important memory would lift his spirits and bring him some comfort.

After the Second World War, my father was among a group of RAF airmen and soldiers in London who provided the backing voices for Vera Lynn’s recording of “Auf Wiederseh’n, Sweetheart,” the song that became an international hit.

They were not a formal singing group at all, just servicemen who volunteered when Decca Records, at Broadhurst Gardens in London, wanted the sound of ordinary men singing together - something warm, rough-edged and authentic, like a crowd gathered around a piano in a pub after the war.

Dad always remembered the recording session with amusement. He said the men sang so well on the first take that the musical director stopped them and told them to do it again, this time sounding less polished and more like ordinary servicemen having a singalong over a few drinks. The whole point was to capture the spirit of camaraderie and relief that people felt at the end of the war.

Whenever I hear that song now, I think not only of the courage and endurance of the British people and their allies in the struggle against fascism, but also of my father and his small part in that moment of history. For their contribution, the men were rewarded with tea, biscuits and a few shillings - modest payment for something that would live on for generations.

Sadly, the signed photograph never reached him. My father died before it arrived.

It's incredible to think that my father's voice is somewhere there, in the backing group, on the record.

*Loreto was born as Loreto Meilak in Sliema in 1918. His family were all from Gozo. He volunteered for the RAF in 1940.

18/03/2026

Join the Consul General and members of the Maltese Ex Services Association of Victoria on Anzac Day to commemorate all who served and perished during the various wars and conflicts. Biex qatt ma ninsew. Lest we forget.

16/03/2026

14/02/2026

https://seanrichardson.com.au/2026/02/13/the-empires-secret-weapon-printing-in-malta/

Explore Malta's pivotal role in the 19th-century information war, where printing presses became tools for education and influence in the Mediterranean.

27/01/2026

Among his many contributions, Mark Caruana was a pioneer in the field of migrant oral history in Australia. We became friends for 40 years due to our shared commitment to ethno-historical studies, especially pertaining to the history of the Maltese in Australia.
RIP Mark...

18/12/2025

Today, 18 December, is the UN's International Migrants' Day. Here is one of many articles I've written over the years on the subject of Maltese migration to Australia. (From the National Library News magazine, 1998).

26/11/2025

Here at the Maltese Historical Association, we are deeply saddened to hear of Mark’s passing. Mark was always incredibly generous with his time, regularly sharing his knowledge with us through his lectures and community work. His research, including his oral history interviews, has been invaluable in preserving and understanding Maltese migration stories.

We extend our deepest condolences to Antoinette and the Caruana family during this very sad time.
This is a significant loss to the Maltese-Australian community.

May he rest in peace.