Maltese precinct at new botanic gardens in Mackay

A Maltese precinct has been incorporated in the new botanic gardens at Mackay, Queensland which were inaugurated some weeks ago.

The planner and designer, Lawrie Smith, drew his inspiration for the ambitious project from the history and characteristics of the people who came from other countries to populate the region. The project is in keeping with geographic elements from Pioneer Valley, Pioneer River and the surrounding mountain ranges which are the home of Australia's largest agricultural area of sugar cane.

The Maltese pioneers who became the predominant group in the sugar cane industry in the Mackay area are duly acknowledged with their own precinct which includes a bocci court.

Anne Camilleri, known as 'Tax-Xoghol', donated many cacti for the Maltese precinct, which represents the Maltese landscape. Extensive important botanic species have been planted.

The construction of the administration and visitors' building and the establishment of waterways and boardwalks were the first part of the project. The centre includes a herbarium, a gallery and café, a multimedia centre, a lookout and an 'orientation walkway'.

The Japanese precinct commemorates the close sister relationship between Mackay and Matsuura. Use was made of massive timber logs which were used over 80 years in the port of Mackay to form a feature in a central courtyard. This phase cost $A3.6 million which includes a $A1.3 million grant from the Queensland government.

Mackay mayor Julie Boyd said that "over the next 17 years, a further $A10 million will be expended developing additional stages and when the gardens are eventually completed, they will cover almost 50 hectares".

Meanwhile, Madalyn Grima had a job on her hand trying to cope with catering for some 8,000 people who were expected at the G&S Engineering Services Wine and Food Day prior to the 2003 Mackay Festival of Arts.

Her business, Madalyn's Catering, is not used to feeding so many mouths at the same time.

"The biggest function I've done was for 300 people," she said. "But I'm really excited we've been asked to do Maltese cooking," she added. Needless to say, pastizzi, qassatat and buskuttini featured quite prominently among the presentations of multicultural selections of food by Indonesian, Japanese, Greek, Dutch, Italian, Malaysian, Javanese and others.

The chairperson of the festival, Cr Jan Ryan said that Maltese food was popular in Mackay and "the Maltese community has had such a huge influence on the history and culture of this city", she acknowledged readily.