In 1959 at the age of 19, George Bartolo left his family and home in Rabat, Malta heading for Australia seeking a two-year adventure. He never imagined this would become his forever home. However, before setting foot in Sydney, he was already helping Maltese migrants as an interpreter on the voyage.

After arriving in Australia, Mr Bartolo settled in Wollongong, involving himself with the Maltese community through the George Cross Club. He supported members of the local Maltese community as a voluntarily translator and helped secure funding for the club building and working on its construction. He organised the club’s first soccer team and was elected President in 1966.

From 1962 until its last publication in 2013, Mr Bartolo was the official Wollongong representative of the weekly national publication, the Maltese Herald. Through his articles and photographs he shared the events and achievements of the Wollongong Maltese community.

Mr Bartolo was a Foundation Member of the Maltese Community Council of NSW. Elected Vice President in 1969, he served in that position for several years. He was awarded Life Membership of the council in 1988 and continued to serve on the committee in varies roles.

During this time Mr Bartolo was responsible for applying for and securing grants to fund the employment of a welfare worker for the Council’s Welfare Service for the Aged Maltese Community program.

In the early 1970’s, Mr Bartolo represented the Maltese Community of Wollongong on the ‘Good Neighbour Community Project” and organised the Inaugural Migrant section of the Wollongong Agricultural, Horticultural and Industrial Annual show. He later joined the show’s committee, serving twelve years as Chief Pavilion Steward before becoming Senior Vice President and ultimately President for two years.

A founding member of the Illawarra Ethnic Communities Council, later becoming the Multicultural Community Council of Illawarra, in 1975, Mr Bartolo was elected Senior Vice Chairperson in 2002 and granted Life Membership of the Council in 2005.

Mr Bartolo was a keen advocate for better aged care services for communities in the Illawarra and throughout NSW, particularly those from southern and eastern Europe, and his own Maltese community. He worked hard at promoting programs for in-home support for those requiring outreach services.

Among many other awards including the Queen’s silver jubilee medal in 1977 for his service to the Maltese community and the United Nations International Day for the Elderly award from Wollongong Council in 2009, Mr Bartolo received an Order of Australia Medal in 2018.

Mr Bartolo was supported throughout his community work by his late wife Lourdes (Doris), and he leaves behind two very proud daughters.