I was born in Xaghra on the 20th October, 1952. My parents were Ġiuzeppa (nee Sultana, ta’ Titta) and Mikieli Bajada (tal-Merina). I lived in Ġnien Imrik Street - quite a rural environment, overlooking Ghajn Xejba, Ghajn Damma and il-Wied ta’ Marsalforn. A breathtaking panorama of Gozo, including the Citadel, the village of Zebbug and Marsalforn Bay can be viewed from the far end of Ġnien Imrik St.

After attending preschool classes at the Fransiscan School (Xaghra), I attended Xaghra Primary School. Some of my teachers were Ms. Maria Sultana, Ms. Vena Xiberras, Ms. Gertrude Bonello, Ms. Gabriella Agius, Ms. Carmen Rapa and Ms. Maria Sultana Farrugia. The Head of School (or Madam as was known at the time) was Ms. Giuzeppa Said. In 1964 Ms. Natalina Sultana took over as Madam.

In 1965 I continued my academic journey at St. Mary Grammar School, Victoria, Gozo. The Madam was Ms. Maria Micallef. Some of my teachers were Ms. Vitorina Refalo, Ms. Stella Attard, Ms. Antonia Micallef, Ms. Buttigieg, Ms. Mary Gatt, Mrs. Carmen Xuereb, Dun Fortunato Cini and Dun Bert Curmi.

In 1970 I started my Metriculation at Lyceum School, Gozo. The subjects that I studied were Maltese, Religion and European History. One of my teachers was Mr. Carmel Attard. In 1971 I was offered a place at Mater Dei College, Tal-Virtu’, Malta to start a teaching course. However, at that point I started to question my directions in life and decided to take a detour in my academic journey. I decided to get married and emigrate to Australia.

My husband, Louie is also of Maltese backgound. His mother, Maria (nee Refalo) is from Xaghra (tal-Haccu) and his father was from Gzira. Loiue was born at Gzira and emigrated to Australia with his family in 1953 at the age of seven. In 1971, after finishing his service in the Vietnam War he came to Malta for a holiday where we met and got married.

In 1972, Loiue and I emigrated to Australia by sea with the Angelina / Flotta Lauro. We settled at North Sunshine, in the western suburbs of Melbourne. We lived with my mother in law for 3 years (his father died in 1971). This phase of my migration experience was very critical as the culture shock was quite significant, especially when the ‘honeymoon phase’ was over. However, the continuous support of Loiue’s family played a significant role in my adjustment.

In 1973 and 1975 I gave birth to Michelle and Mark respectively at Footscray hospital. This was followed by moving to our new home in St. Albans, a suburb adjacent to Sunshine.

The death of my father in 1980 precipitated a phase of acute depression. I was hospitalised at Footscray Psychiatric Hospital for five weeks. After I was discharged from hospital, I gradually managed to get out of this critical phase and continue with my life.

The year 1987 was a very significant one, both at personal and academic levels. This was the year when I started questioning my directions in life and decided to return to study as a mature age student. I enrolled for 3 short courses at Western Institute (now know as Victoria University) in St. Albans as a preparation for tertiary studies. After completion, I was offered a place to start my degree (Bachelor of Arts) in March 1988. However, this coincided with a significant milestone in my personal journey. In as much as there was a part of me that wanted to go forward, another part of me wanted to go backwards to find out where I’m coming from in relation to my personal identity. I embarked on a very painful journey of self-discovery and identified a highly traumatised inner child that has been repressed for all these years. From the early stages of this inner journey I felt a strong compulsion to start writing a diary and use this personal experience constructively. Indeed, I started an intensive study of myself – a self that was so fragmented and persecuted by so many inner voices (among other things).

In March 1990, I started my Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Psychology and Social Research Methods. I completed my Honours in Psychology. As a partial requirement, I completed a thesis entitled “Psychological adjustment of adolescents: A comparative study among Maltese- and Anglo-Australian adolescents”. I graduated in 1994 with First Class Honours. After that I won the Australian Post Graduate Award – the highest award offered by the Australian Federal Government - to complete my doctorate.

I started my doctorate in March 1996. My research area was in mental health across cultures. Indeed, the thesis is entitled “Life satisfaction of adolescents: A cross cultural study in Malta and Australia”. I graduated on 4th November, 2005.

These last 12 months, I worked on a number of projects relating to the Maltese community in Australia, more specifically in Melbourne - both on a voluntary basis and as a research officer with the Institute for Community Engagement and Policy Alterntives at Victoria University, Melbourne. 

In July 2006, I came of the University of Malta as an academic through the exchange program between Victoria University and the University of Malta. During my stay in Malta, I have worked on a number of projects in relation to the Maltese connections.

When I started my doctorate I also started my teaching career at Victoria University. Over the years I lectured and tutored in various subjects, including Psychology, Human Relations (in the School of Hospitality, Tourism and Marketing) and Research Methods.

I am writing this memoir on Saturday, 2nd December, 2006, the day before the launching of the Maltese Connections website. I am sitting at the kitchen table where little Vitorja shared the family meal with her parents, Ġiuzeppa and Mikieli, sisters Maria and Karmena (who passed away in 1963 at the age of 11) and brothers Peppi and Benni in the family house in Ġnien Imrik Street.

More recently, at this same table, I shared the family meals with my husband Louie, our 2 children – Michelle and Mark and granddaughter, Monique.

I finish with this quote:

And the end of all exploring
Will be to arrive where we started
And know the place for the first time.
(T. S. Elliot, Four Quartets, Little Gidding)

Dr. Victoria Borg (nee Bajada)