/library/oar/handle/123456789/117686 2026-01-02T21:56:59Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/117676 Title: The Gozo Observer : Issue 47 : 2023 Abstract: 1/ Editorial: The Gozo Regional Development Strategy - Lino Briguglio 2/ The Maltese Nobility and the Last Gourgion - Mario Saliba 3/ Archbishop Michael Gonzi’s Gozo Episcopate Sergio Grech 4/ The Attack on Gozo of 1551 and its Effects on the Gozo Population – Part I - Luca Curmi 5/ Analysis of the Attitudes of Gozitan Worker Commuters Regarding Travel Time and Transport Options between Gozo and Malta - Marthese Cini 6/ The Ta' Għejżu Prehistoric Site in Xagħra, Gozo - Adrian van der Blom 7/ Remembering Professor Ġuzè Aquilina (1911–1997) - Charles Bezzina 8/ Obituary – Mro. Ġużeppi Mallia (1932-2023) - Geoffrey G. Attard 9/ Book Review: Mill-Ġrajja Għall-Ballata - Geoffrey G. Attard 10/ Book Review: Bilanċ: Għal Ħajja Aħjar- Geoffrey G. Attard 11/ Recent Activities at the University of Malta – Gozo Campus - Joseph Calleja 2023-01-01T00:00:00Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/117674 Title: Editorial : the Gozo regional development strategy Abstract: The Gozo Regional Development Strategy issued in September 2023 by the Gozo Regional Development Authority, is a very interesting and timely document, well written and with a good understanding of the economic situation in Gozo. It covers various aspects of the economy, indicating, without explicitly stating it, that economic activity in different sectors are intertwined. The publication also assigns importance to the social and environmental impacts resulting from economic activity. 2023-01-01T00:00:00Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/117671 Title: The Maltese nobility and the last Gourgion Abstract: The Gourgion Tower, which was situated in Xewkija, was built during the time of the Knights. This was a large village house or a villa in the countryside that was built in such a way that it could withstand an attack by the Turks. So it was more of a fortified villa than a tower. It served the purpose of security and prestige for the owners. This building was unfortunately demolished by the Americans in the Second World War to make way for an airfield in those areas. Although there was the intention to rebuild it as it was after the war, the idea was never carried out and the owners took compensation in the form of cash instead of rebuilding the tower. It is said that the authorities had paid seven thousand pounds sterling to the owners, which in today’s money comes to around €641,340. This was a good sum at the time when you consider that a day’s wage of an unskilled worker was a shilling (1/-) or fifty cents of today. 2023-01-01T00:00:00Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/117645 Title: Archbishop Michael Gonzi’s Gozo episcopate Abstract: The life of Archbishop Michael Gonzi spanned nearly a century. He passed away in 1984 at the age of 99 after having retired from Malta’s bishopric seat eight years earlier (Leħen is-Sewwa, 22 ta’ Jannar 1984: 1). His episcopate in Malta had lasted thirty years. Furthermore, the archbishop also served as bishop of Gozo for a period of nineteen years between 1924 and 1943, succeeding Bishop Giovanni Maria Camilleri. In 1924, Mgr Michele Gonzi, aged 39, was chosen as Gozo’s fifth bishop. Gozo had been an independent catholic diocese from Malta since 1864 with the Matrice of the Assumption, within the Citadel, as the Cathedral Church (Bezzina, 1988: 11). The earliest reference to a church in Gozo goes back to 1299 (Bezzina, 1989: 9). By the time of the Eucharistic Congress organised in Gozo in 1929, the population of the island was 23,000 inhabitants (Bezzina, 1979: 19). 2023-01-01T00:00:00Z