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WHO IS PETER PAUL PORTELLI?

Born on September, 26, 1952 in Nadur, Gozo, Malta. At six years old he attended the Nadur Elementary School. At seven years old he was chosen as class leader. At fourteen he was already a community leader, involved in music, dancing, singing and football. Nicknamed tas-Sultan, lived in Ramla Road till the age of nineteen when he emigrated to Australia and settled in Melbourne.

In Australia he formed soccer teams at the work place. In 1979 he formed the Australian Nadur Association to organize the feast of St. Peter and Paul and became its first president. In 1986 he became elected Councilor of the City of Sunshine by 51% of the votes. During his term in office of Councillor the council named a street after Portelli’s home town of Nadur. The street called Nadur Court has nineteen houses and is in the suburb of St. Albans.

In 1987 the council of the City of Sunshine chose Nadur as its Sister City. On New Years Eve of 1987 during Monsignor Archpriest Sam Muscat visit to Melbourne the Mayor of the City of Sunshine Cr. Gerry O’Connor officially invited him at the Town Hall together with Cr. Portelli and Mr. Guzi Muscat from Nadur.

In 1991 he founded the Maltese Cultural Association Inc. In 1992 he acquired an old railways building and established the Maltese Cultural Centre, in Albion. The Centre was officially opened by Ian Baker State Member for Sunshine the person who supported Portelli’s request to acquire the premises. The Centre was blessed by Mons. Benedict Camilleri, Rector of Ta’ Pinu Basilica, in Gozo. Portelli founded many associations which some of them are still very successful today.

In November 1996 he formed the Order of St. Peter and Paul to honuor members of the community for their tireless work in their society. The Order has now Priories in many States in Australia, Malta, Croatia and Austria. In November 2005, he ran as Independent candidate for the Grasslands Ward of the Brimbank City Council and lost by 8 votes. 

On the 29th. November 2008, Peter Paul Portelli contested once again the Brimbank City Council elections. He polled 400 more votes from the 2005 election but although he once again was a preferred by the voters he didn't have enough preferential votes to win the election.

Brimbank City Council was dismissed by the State Government of Victoria for corruption and intimidation by some councillors. The dismissal took place on 15 th. September, 2009, just nine months after the 2008 elections.

Peter is intending to stand a team of candidates in the next election in 2012 elections. Peter Paul Portelli is married to Mary, nee Saliba from Zebbug, Gozo.