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Joseph (Giuseppi) Cauchi,
was born on the 10th of August 1915,
the son of Angelo Cauchi and Natalina
nee Cassar being the oldest from a family of five which also included
Amabile, the politician. He can be
regarded as the first "mayor" of Ghajnsielem since he
represented his village on the Gozo Civic Council in the
1960's and 70's.
Giuseppi was baptised by Parish Priest Dun Frangisk Mizzi
at the Old Parish Church and was given the Christian
name of Guseppe Lorenzo. He received his primary
education at the Ghajnsielem Primary School and later at
the Sacred Heart Seminary in Victoria.
After
completing his secondary education, he left for Malta
where he started the nursing course. He worked as a
nurse both in Rabat (Malta) at the Counaught Hospital
and also at the Central Hospital in Floriana (which
nowadays stations the Police Depot). |
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After a few years, he returned
back to Gozo where he continued to work as a 'ward master nurse'
in Fort Chambray which in those times hosted a Mental Hospital.
Giuseppi was active in several
entities including the Band Club, the Ghajnsielem Parish and
also the village administration. It was the era when the Gozo
Civic Council, a statutory local government body having a
distinct legal personality was established (14 April 1961).
Elections for the first district committees took place on 4 June
1961 and Ghajnsielem, like all other villages, was to return six
candidates. Seven candidates contested the election. Domenic
Scicluna, obtained the highest number of votes, in descending
order, by Joseph Cauchi, Anthony Grech, Publius Scicluna,
Amabile Xuereb, Carmel Agius, and Mariano Xuereb. The first six
were elected and on 19 June they in turn elected Joseph Cauchi
to represent Ghajnsielem on the Gozo Civic Council.
Joseph Cauchi was elected by
lot as in the second count he got the same number of votes as
Amabile Xuereb. The Council was made up of fourteen members;
they represented the town and the thirteen villages of Gozo. It
held its first meeting on 4 July 1961. Meanwhile his brother
Amabile was elected as member of the Parliament. Their
priorities was to help the poor families which still lacked
sanitary facilities like toilets, bathrooms and hand wash
stations.
These photos
show Joseph Cauchi with Prime Minister George Borg Oliver
and Gozo Bishop Nikola Cauchi. During the opening ceremony of
the apparition square
playing field on the 15th of February 1970
Giuseppi was a big motorbike
enthusiast and was he first to bring a bike in Ghajnsielem
although he later bought a car after getting married to Inez nee
Gauci. They had ten children and Giuseppi was a dedicated
family man. He was also very active in the Ghajnsielem Parish.
Every Sunday he used to take his wife and children to 'Ta Pinu'
and then to Xaghra's playing field (since there was no playing
fields in Ghajnsielem in those times). In fact, when he was
elected as a member of the village administration, together with
his brother Amabile, made it a point to open a recreational area
in Ghajnsielem. The first playing field was in fact inaugurated
on the 15th of February 1970. It is situated on edge-end of the
Apparition Square overlooking the valley.
Joseph Cauchi was one of the
first to bring a motorbike in Ghajnsielem.
Joseph Cauchi, first from right with Archpriest Espedito Tabone
Joseph Cauchi's received the
State Registered Nurse Certificate in 1971.
Click on image to enlarge.
Giuseppe was also a football
enthusiast and in fact he was a member of the Gozo Football
Association. Every Sunday he used to take several supporters
from Ghajnsielem to watch the games especially when Ghajnsielem
F.C. was playing.
Joseph Cauchi (first from the
left) is seen here standing with the Bass Drum
in this photo which shows the first bandsmen when the St Joseph
Band was founded in 1928
It is interesting to note that
Giuseppi appears on the first photo of the St Joseph Band back
in 1928 when it was founded. He is seen standing with the bass
drum with a black suit. A curious fact shown on this photo is
the wrist watch which Giuseppi is wearing - certainly a rare
feat for those times!
He was also President of the
St Joseph Band between 1968 and 1973. Giuseppe was still
occupying this position when he suddenly passed away on the 6th
of June 1973.
His work and dedicated to his
native village was recognized when a street was named after him.
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