Heard in the Hive

This year the Constantinian Order of St George and of the Cross of Constantinople recently held its international convention in Malta which was presided over by Prince Henri Paleologo, Prince of the Byzantine and Hereditary Grand Master of these Orders. He was accompanied by his wife, Princess Françoise.

The convention was organised by the Council of the Malta Chapter under the direction of Chevalier Major Joseph Bonnici, international grand chancellor and president of the local chapter.

The main event was the investiture held at Palazzo Parisio in Naxxar, during which a number of Maltese and foreign ladies and gentlemen received promotions in a most colourful ceremony.

The following investitures and promotions of members took place: Dame Helen Meli Attard, Mignon Rocher Gardner and Linda Margaret Shields (in absentia); Knights F.R. Flynn, W. Bonnici, H. Bonnici, P. Ransley, A. Demajo, Capt P.V. DeBono, M. Ciavola, Col. Dr R. Bencini, E. Vuotto and John Sax; Promotions: Grand Cross: P. Banavage and Dr J.A. Camilleri; Grand Officer Mayor A. Bonello Dupuis.

Over 100 guests attended the Imperial Byzantine Charity Ball that followed the investiture. It was held at the Westin Dragonara Resort. Half the guests were from the UK, USA, Germany, Belgium, Spain, Monaco, France, Barbados and New Zealand.

Since the order is philanthropic, donations from the proceeds of the functions held during the convention will be made to local institutions including Id-Dar tal-Providenza, the Holy Family Home, Naxxar, and the Little Sisters of the Poor of Hamrun.

Ursuline Sisters receive donation from Casinò di Venezia

MANAGEMENT and staff of the Casinò di Venezia in Vittoriosa presented a donation to the Ursuline Sisters in Sliema last Tuesday.

Jesabelle Attard, on behalf of the management and staff, presented the donation to Sr Roberta, in the presence of general manager Marco Battaggia and his assistant, Miljan Miljanic.

Ms Attard took the initiative to collect money from her colleagues. Then the management doubled the amount. After touring the Ursuline Crèche, Mr Battaggia said that this donation is the first one by the casino.

In the coming weeks, the Casinò di Venezia will be announcing another initiative to raise more funds for the Ursuline Sisters and other institutions.

Crimsonwing pledges support to remote Ethiopian village

CRIMSONWING has a long established tradition of supporting charitable organisations.

Past years have seen monies go to UK and Malta-based charities such as SCOPE (a UK national disability organisation whose focus is people with cerebral palsy) and Centru Tbexbix - the Cottonera centre for the education, support and development for women and children of low-income families.

With the collaboration of Moviment Missjunarju Gesu fil-Proxxmu, this year's donation has gone to Ethiopia, to a little village called Sakko, nestled in the rural area around the provincial capital of Dembidollo.

Situated in the south-western part of Ethiopia (and some 300 km from the capital, Addis Ababa), Dembidollo is a small town with a hospital, health centre and schools. The rural areas around Dembidollo have sprouted four Catholic activity centres of which Sakko is one.

These activity centres play an important part in educating and dispensing healthcare to people in the surrounding villages.

Health workers, who undertake vaccine programmes and mother and childcare, visit the more remote areas, which are not easily accessible due to the appalling state of the roads.

Crimsonwing's donation was specifically geared towards overcoming two major hurdles. It is a well-known fact that 30 per cent of children living in rural areas do not frequent school, so the first initiative was to build a simple stone structure to house a school.

Works are in progress and the bishop of Nekemte has blessed and laid the foundation stone. This two-roomed building will serve as a school to all children living in the area.

In Ethiopia meat and eggs are a luxury enjoyed by very few and in fact most people subsist on enjerra (a kind of pancake) with a spicy vegetable sauce.

As part of its second initiative, Crimsonwing have (since March) sponsored an ongoing feeding programme. Children attending school are given a proper meal and benefit from a balanced and nutritious diet.

The four Indian Sisters (two nurses, one social worker and one educator) who are running the Sakko school and feeding programme are excited at the prospects.

The addition of a proper school dispensing regular meals for all its students will no doubt help promote learning and self-empowerment in this poorest of regions.

"Crimsonwing are proud to be involved in the Sakko project. We look forward to seeing the school building completed in person and hope the Sakko community benefit fully from the programme," said Natasha Pantovic, head of Business Development at Crimsonwing.

Crimsonwing staff have also established the People Who Care Fund where employees have a small amount of their salary voluntarily deducted and transferred to the fund's bank account. Twice a year the monies are distributed and donated to various local charities.

Austrian Ambassador calls on Malta Society of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce

The Austrian Ambassador, Dr Elizabeth Kehrer, recently paid a visit to the Society of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce in Valletta. She was welcomed by the president, Paul Asciak, and members of the council.

Dr Kehrer was shown round Palazzo de La Salle, the premises of the society; this enabled her to see the art, lace, parchment and beading classes in action. She also spoke to some of the teachers and students.

Dr Kehrer was then shown the exhibition of works set up by the students. This included various items of Malta lace, paintings on parchment, beading, ganutell, paintings on glass, dressmaking, embroidery, embroidery in gold and paintings in various media. The ambassador was impressed by the variety and quality of work displayed.

The Malta Society of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce is Malta's oldest cultural society and has been teaching various arts, crafts and musica for over 150 years. About 500 students attend classes at the society's premises in Valletta every term.

The pictorial sound of music

AN exhibition opening at the piano bar of the Crowne Plaza, Sliema, on Saturday at 7.30 p.m. (to which the public is invited) shows how music stimulates the talent of painters, sculptors, lithographers from 17 countries, while pianist Norman Cristina will delight art lovers attending the event with his playing.

There are works by the Israeli Zoltan Perlmutter (1922-2002), who was head of the Hampstead Academy in London, such as Violinist, Orchestral Group and The Dance; and original lithographs by the Frenchman Giacomo de Pass, which adorn the collections of various museums in Europe and America.

His life-size bronze violinist Mutations au Violon (in the lobby of the Vivaldi Hotel) has proved to be a familiar sight to visitors, and his large oil The Orchestra will fascinate the public at the Crowne Plaza.

Another French artist, Guy Lemesre, pays a wonderful tribute to Malta with his impressive sculptures The Violin, The Drums and The Trumpet Player in Malta stone; the large eloquent collage Musical Euphoria by Ljupco Samardziski (Serbia-Montenegro) lends another dimension to music; there are floral sopranos by the American Ronald Burns while the English artist Richard Constable entertains us with his dancing female nudes in a Texan saloon, a long way from his famous great-grandfather John Constable with whom he exhibits in London museums.

There are other music-inspired works by Christiane Peugeot (France), R,O. Schabbach (Germany), Daniela Guevska (Bulgaria), A.D. Zikov (Bosnia-Herzegovina), Walter Vella (Malta), Manuel Quintanilla (Spain), Jamila Rizgalla (Libya/Germany), Milena Kunz-Bijno (Italy/Germany), Nikki Arnett-Depasquale (UK/Malta)and Michael Korber (USA) .

The permanent exhibition will be attended Monday to Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. and on Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

For more information call 9942-9769 or 7906-7666; e-mail: damefrancoisetempra@onvol.net.

Sunspot Tours celebrates 25th anniversary

SUNSPOT TOURS, based in Cranbrook, Kent, one of the leading independent UK holiday specialist companies selling holidays to Malta and other destinations, recently cele-brated its 25th anniversary with a celebration in Malta attended by representatives of the government, the local hotel trade and other suppliers in the travel business.

The group's guests of honour were Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi and Tourism Minister Francis Zammit Dimech.

Other guests included the UK High Commissioner, MPs, and senior officials from Air Malta, MTA, the MHRA president and over 60 hotel owners and general managers.

A total of 150 guests who contribute to Malta's tourist industry attended the event. Furthermore, the staff at the UK head office in Kent were flown out to Malta to join their Maltese counterparts in celebrating this unique occasion.

Managers Martin Bugeja and his brother Nicholas founded the company in 1980; it has sold over half a million inclusive holidays to our islands over the past 25 years.

Sunspot Tours Ltd is a member of the UK Association of Independent Tour Operators whose charter obliges tour operators to strive to create overseas holidays with a high level of professionalism and a shared concern for quality and personal service.

The company employs a staff of 80 in the UK with another 17 in Malta. The group carries 45,000 passengers visiting Malta and Gozo annually, and almost the same amount to other destinations.

The President and Mrs Fenech Adami's engagments January 9-15

Monday
10 a.m. Mrs Fenech Adami presides over a Malta Community Chest Fund working committee meeting at the Palace, Valletta.
11 The President and Mrs Fenech Adami are presented with a cheque in aid of the MCCF by Mdina Lions.
Noon The President and Mrs Fenech Adami visit President Emeritus Sir Anthony Mamo on the occasion of his 97th birthday at Casa Arkati, Mosta.

Tuesday
8.15 p.m. The President and Mrs Fenech Adami attend a reception hosted by Austrian Ambassador Dr Elisabeth Kehrer to commemorate the Austrian EU presidency, at Palazzo Marina, Valletta.

Thursday
10.15 a.m. The President addresses foreign ambassadors accredited to Malta during the official New Year's greetings ceremony to the diplomatic corps at the Palace, Valletta.

Friday
10 a.m. The President receives honorary consuls and consuls-general at the Palace, Valletta.
10 Mrs Fenech Adami presides over an MCCF working committee meeting.

Saturday
6.30 p.m. The President and Mrs Fenech Adami attend Mass on the occasion of the 100th birthday of Dante Bonnici at Zebbug parish church.
7.30 The President and Mrs Fenech Adami attend a concert by the National Orchestra conducted by Michael Laus at the Mediterranean Conference Centre, Valletta.

Sunday
10 a.m. The President and Mrs Fenech Adami attend the L-Istrina auction sale at San Anton Palace Courtyard, Attard.
5 p.m. The President and Mrs Fenech Adami attend a thanksgiving Mass on the occasion of the end of the episcopate of Mgr Nikol Cauchi at the Cathedral in Victoria, Gozo.

For your diary

A card party in aid of the Little Sisters of the Poor will be held at the Preluna Hotel on Wednesday at 10 a.m. For bookings phone Blanche Martin on 2133-0387.

Ward u Zghar is organising a get-together at the Centru Hidma Socjali, St Venera, on Wednesday at 7 p.m.

The group will also be meeting for karaoke at the Little Waster Pub, Bugibba on Friday 8.30 p.m. For more information phone 9947-2868.

A six-week course on thinking skills is being organised by the National Council of Women at the centre on Thursday from 10 a.m. to noon. It aims to help participants develop creative and critical thinking techniques that are essential in meeting the challenges of living in a technologically-oriented, multicultural world. At home, these skills will help participants deal with everyday activities like helping their children in school work, looking after the household and making better decisions. For more information phone 2124-8881.

The Rehabilitation Centre for the Physically handicapped at Corradino, Paola, is organising a coffee morning/tombola at the parish hall in Attard on Thursday at 10 a.m. Tickets, at Lm1.50 each, may be obtained by phoning at the Corradino Centre on 9984-5600 or 2143-6421 or at the door.

The Maltese Psychological Association, together with the Cana Movement, are organising a lecture titled "Understanding marital breakdown". This reflects both organisations' interest in a phenomenon that has now established itself in our social landscape. The lecture will be delivered by Dr Jack Dominian, MA, MB Chir (Cantab.), FRC Ped, FRC Psych, D.Sc. (Hons) MBE.

Originally trained as a psychiatrist in 1961, Dr Dominian is now a distinguished authority in the field, having written numerous papers and over 30 books on marriage, sex and love particularly in relation to Roman Catholicism.

He started working at the Catholic Advisory Council in 1959 and also established One Plus One, a leading marriage research centre in England. Dr Dominian is visiting Malta on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Cana Movement.

The seminar will be held at the Centre for Professional Bodies in Gzira on January 24 at 6 p.m. Professionals working with couples and others having a keen interest in the matter are to register by phone on 2123-8942 or via e-mail at info@canamovement.org. A nominal fee of Lm3 (Lm 2 for students) is to be paid at the door.

Appreciation - Michael Micallef, Md, fFrrcsi

Dr Salvina Zrinzo, MD, FA für Radiologie, of Madliena, writes:

MICHAEL MICALLEF'S passing away to a better life at such a young age will leave his family and friends with an immense sense of loss and yet with many wonderful memories.

Michael was what I suppose one could call the ideal colleague. But he was so much more than just that. Professionally he was meticulous in his work, totally committed to his patients' welfare.

And yet Michael, with that unique smile of his, still found the time for everyone, always ready to lend a helping hand, supporting his staff in everything, including their personal problems.

He loved his profession, to the extent that he was a bulwark of the Maltese Radiological Society, of which he was such a hard-working secretary, his tenacious character helping him achieve so much.

His humility, his true Christian spirit and his humour endeared him to everyone who came to know him. To say we have lost a colleague would be an understatement, because his true friendship rose above everything else. We will all miss Michael so much.

Our sympathy, support and prayers go to his family in their moment of such a tragic loss. Truly the good die young. May you rest in peace, dear Michael.

Appreciation - Iris Borg

Ms Valerie Borg, of Valletta, writes:

On December 16, the Malta Labour Party club of Valletta lost the president of the Women's Committee Section, a physically beautiful person with a pleasant personality. Iris Borg was a woman of virtue who helped those in need and brought a smile to those who knew her.

Iris was my mother and my best friend. She was one of those rare people who was endowed with the wisdom to always act in remembrance of God.

Although her physical beauty faded a little with time, her spiritual beauty never faded. She had a kind word for everyone and made no distinction between people of different social strata. Maybe this was why so many people came to show their last respects at her funeral at the Carmelite church in Valletta.

My mother was not a person who expected love and attention even throughout her illness, however she always showed love and affection. I believe that what helped her through her illness was the knowledge that God is our father and guide.

Mum's favourite songs were John Lennon's Imagine and Bette Midler's Wind beneath My Wings. I will love you eternally Mum, but I cannot "imagine" now that I am devoid of the "wind beneath my wings".