The Malta Geographical Society - Founded 1943
Committees’ Report Year 2024
Annual General Meeting
March 6, 2025
Ladies and Gentlemen,
As the chairperson of the society, I welcome you to our AGM. It is a pleasure for me as the very first female chair of this historic society (now in its 82nd year) to present our 2024 report.
Such societies as ours owe their longevity and success to not just a single person but to a group of volunteers who work together to fulfill our vision.
We have a very clear vision that goes all the way back to 1943: “to promote the culture of geography in the wide sense of cultural appreciation of the Maltese Islands and of promotion the Maltese environment. This was done from the very start by organising walks mainly in the countryside, as well as talks and showing of films.
Nowadays, we still have the walks and cultural events, not so much the showing of films, more the sharing on fb of videos that get us out walking!
All of what we do is achieved with our volunteers on committee and with walk leaders. And, I have to remind people that we are volunteers who offer our time and expertise to give our members a range of experiences.
Our committee is a great team who works together very efficiently. And I would like to introduce you to them.
The following members were on the Committee during 2024
Richard Davies: Chairperson and Honorary Treasurer
Timmy Zammit: Vice Chairperson
Anna Dalli: Honorary Secretary
Maura Marlow: Membership secretary, overseas trip coordinator
Mario Borg: Website, Walk Leader, banking assistance and photographer
Mario Farrugia: Walks Organizer
Helga Camilleri:Walk Leader
Eva Albanozzo: Social Events Coordinator/ walk leader
Mary Mangion: Social Event Coordinator
Our committee meetings are held here at the Voluntary Centre in Valletta and during 2024 we held 7 meetings.
Walks
We continued our system of organizing 3 walks per month, one Wednesday and two Saturdays, with a repeat of the Wednesday-walk, to enable those who work a chance to do that missed walk. In the year from January to December 2024, we organized 28 walks with a total of 1,762 walkers who attended.
Our average attendance is around 50-60 but we have had high numbers as on January 27 at Bidnija-San Martin area with 117 walkers. And again, at Verdala Palace for our annual memorial walk for Paul Debono fundraiser for Hospice, with 99 attending and donating to Hospice Malta. Our lowest attendance was 29 at Mistra Valley in May.
We welcomed not only walkers but their dogs, who we got to know well, and will miss Teddy, sadly killed in a traffic accident.
We kept our summer programme of 1 evening walk a month with the popular Gozo Pizza Walk. Last August this was from Mgarr ferry along the coast to Hondoq ir-Rummien and then to our pizza (and other dishes!) at Il-Bukkett Restaurant in Qala. Again, photos of this great evening on the website.
As usual, our walking programme was prepared and coordinated by Timmy Zammit and Mario Farrugia.
Now we have a very keen group of walk leaders to introduce to you as follows:
Mario Farrugia
Helga Camilleri
Eva Albanozzo
Antida Zammit
Doris Debono
Doris Portelli
Alex Pace
Stephen Guy
John Maclachlan
Mario Borg
Mary Grace Borg
Maura Marlow
And Frans Attard, a former Chairperson, now living on Gozo who continues to offer his incredible knowledge of the Maltese Islands.
We scout or plan the walks a week or so before the walk to ensure that paths are open to us. Too much building or closed paths (often abusively) means we have to find an alternative route. Sometimes this takes more than one scouting walk. So, many hours spent out making sure we can walk legally and safely.
We try and cover different parts of the islands from Armier to Marsascala, Buskett to Cottonera, for example. And being aware of which walks to avoid in wet valleys during the winter. It’s not often we have to cancel a walk due to rough weather but then we make a decision on the spot unless the weather forecast forces us to cancel or postpone.
As from the beginning of the society, careful records and statistics are kept, and we thank Mario Farrugia for his meticulous records regarding walk notes, maps, screen shots, and walk attendance statistics. I think Mario and Google maps are a matched pair!
Walks Abroad
We have continued a close relationship with our Pugliese guide, Luigina Geusa.
In May, we travelled to the Gargano area of Puglia to enjoy the dramatic coastal scenery and sea caves with the ancient Trabucchi (an old method of fishing from wooden structures), the ancient forests, the culture and a visit to Padre Pio sanctuary.
We will continue with Luigina this coming year with trips in May and October. These are always sold out in a day or two and restricted to a small group of 25. Lovely photos of this trip on our website.
Social and Cultural Events
In March from 15-17, we had our weekend of walking and relaxation at the Luna Holiday Complex. We had 3 walks as usual on Friday afternoon, a long walk Saturday and a shorter one Sunday morning. All members were able to join these walks, not restricted to hotel guests.
Our members really enjoy these weekends to meet up and relax, not necessarily to walk. So, at the end of this month we are off, once again, to the Paradise Bay Hotel.
On June 21 we had a visit to the Malta Railway tunnel, an opportunity to visit this heritage site open once a year. We thank Paul Galea from the Malta Railway Foundation who made this event possible and were pleased to give a donation of €328 to the Malta Railway Foundation, who we have a close relationship with.
We had our summer BBQ at the Il Cortile in July, well-attended as always with 60 guests. It’s always lovely to see friends and members, unable to walk with us now, enjoy an evening catching up and socialising in the lovely courtyard.
Membership
Our membership continues to grow with people following our fb page and website, or by word of mouth. They often turn up with friends or by themselves. We sometimes get visiting tourists along for a walk. And all are thankful that we have provided information where and when to meet. We try and start the walks near a bus stop.
We continue to offer a year’s membership at a nominal €5 or €10 for two years.
We had 77 new members join in 2024, quite a record.
This brings membership, together with Life Members, to over 440.
Facebook Page and Website
The Facebook page is extremely popular with photos and walks information uploaded regularly. Special thanks go to member Antoine Attard who takes care of this page and to all the members who upload their photos, interesting items and now even walk routes from their phone apps.
The Website is managed by Mario Borg. It is visited by many interested parties from all over the world. The Society invested in a new operation in 2021, and members can now see all the information on computer and mobile phones. We note the increasing number of visitors who access the site with their mobile phones - we will continue getting information to members in this way.
Malta Walking Federation
We are proud to be one of the 6 founding members of a coalition of trekking/walking groups made up of:
Malta Geographical Society
Ramblers Malta
XirCammini
Trail Makers
Trekking Malta
Leisure Ventures
This soon-to-be NGO was formed to promote solidarity between all hikers, trekkers and walkers in the Maltese Islands and beyond in a sustainable way so that we have access to the countryside, coastal and urban areas, by safeguarding existing rights of transit and establishing new rights of transit where required. And to establish a common green code to lessen the impact on the environment and to promote respect for other users.
The statutes have been approved.
A logo has been designed and approved.
The Federation had launched the idea last year on Sunday, May 5 with a mass walk around the Three Cities and over 400 walkers joined in. The press and media covered this event.
The process of registering as an NGO has now begun under the scrutiny of the Voluntary Sector.
This federation reflects the growing interest in walking in the Maltese Islands and the determination to get people out to explore and enjoy what these islands offer.
I end with thanking our members for their continuous support. And you members present for attending this AGM. We have made many friends over the years, welcoming them into what we consider our family, and are happy to be constantly rewarded with such gracious comments on what interesting walks we provide and how well we look after our walkers. Nobody gets lost on our walks!
We look forward to continuing to offer all kinds of experiences, walking and non-walking to our members.
And to keep the incredible legacy of the Malta Geographical Society alive and well.
Maura Marlow
Chairperson