The history of Mackay’s two oldest surviving pioneering Maltese women will be depicted through photographic images at the International Women’s Day celebrations at the Mackay Botanic Gardens on March 6.

Mackay Maltese Club president and co-author of From Humble Beginnings Carmel Baretta said the hardships endured by 12 Maltese women reflect the landscape of the time.

“One of the women, Carmela Haber, moved to Australia within days of marrying her husband Joseph in Malta in 1935. She had to adapt to Australia’s harsh countryside as she had come from a tiny island and was suddenly surrounded by trees and creepy fauna,” she said.

“When she first arrived in the district she spent the night sitting on the running board of the car, petrified by the rats scurrying about and the strange eerie sounds of the bush.

“Although it took about 30 days to travel by ship to Australia, word had got around that there was an abundance of land available. As the majority of rural Maltese are farmers, many families or individuals migrated to Australia in hope of living a more prosperous life.”.

Another Maltese migrant Caterina Vella moved to the district in 1929 with the intention of earning enough money to help her mother in Malta who struggled to support her family.

“Based at Richmond, Caterina overcame her loneliness and homesickness by walking to friends living in Nidaroo and Barcoo. As she was very shy and could not speak English, Caterina would hide in the grass by the side of the road whenever she thought someone was approaching.

“Besides working the land with her husband and later three children, she also fed and washed for their canecutters.”.

“Life was very hard for Caterina and she missed Malta greatly. Caterina distinctly remembers hearing about the World War II bombings in Malta and anguishing about the well-being of her family who remained on the ravaged island. Her husband hung a map of the world on the wall and each evening plotted the areas where fighting took place.”.

Mrs Haber, aged 84 and Mrs Vella, aged 92, remain close friends and still live independently in Mackay.