Heard in the Hive

The International Air Rally of Malta came to a successful end for its 35th time, culminating in a highly-charged and emotional prize-giving ceremony, early last month.

Malta Tourism Authority chairman Chris Grech presented the trophies to the winners, and the distinguished guests included company representatives who aided and supported this renowned annual international event.

Although organised entirely by volunteers, the Malta air rally has always generated great interest abroad, and is well known for consistent professional standards. It is very highly regarded, especially in view of the accurate and fair judging of its numerous competitions.

An enthusiastic, energetic chairman, Capt. George E. Kissaun, heads the voluntary organisation, and has contributed greatly to all 35 Malta rallies. Thanks to his active part in the International Air Rally of Malta, and his deep involvement in other related areas, general aviation has entrenched itself on the island - with obvious benefits to the country.

Ever since its inception, the Malta rally was a major contributor to the various aviation organisations which have sprung up since.

In his speech, Capt Kissaun thanked his family, the committee, hostesses, judges and all other helpers who make it possible to hold an international event year in, year out without fail.

However, the emphasis of his speech, and that of the MTA chairman, pointed to a '25th' anniversary. Committee member Liz Vella was singled out for a very special 'thank-you' for her 25 consecutive years of involvement.

She was highly praised for her loyalty and exemplary dedication, especially throughout the 20-years-plus as administrative secretary. The rally chairman spoke of how she was a main contributor to the success of the organisation, her work in all branches, and the new ideas she helped generate. "Liz Vella's enthusiasm and honesty outshone us all," he said.

During the gala dinner, Ms Vella was also presented with a much-appreciated gift from all the volunteers who spend so much time at Rally House.

Overall winner this year was Finnish Peter Tahtinen, ably aided by his co-pilot son Oskari - a fresh PPL. Michel Horat (Switzerland) and Christian Roy (France) placed overall second and third, respectively. All three were newcomers, proving that careful perusal of competition rules pays off - when coupled with excellent flying skills.

The arrival competition was won by C. Roy, followed by M. Horat and P. Tahtinen. The Finn, Frenchman Michel Blanc and Philip Crewe (UK) took the first three placings in the Timed Section competition. Flight Planning was won by Pascal Retord, followed by Agnes Corompt (both French) and M. Horat. The highest-scoring Concours d'Elegance aircraft were flown by Austrian Martin Ehmayr, P. Crewe and M. Horat.

Results covered a good mix of newcomers and regular rallyists, with five of the six participating countries winning awards.

Maltese patronage at gala fund-raising dinner in Tunisia

A fund-raising gala dinner was held recently by the lovely swimming pool of the five-star Corinthia Khamsa in Gammarth, a suburb north of Tunis.

The dinner was under the patronage of the Ambassador of Malta to Tunisia, Ives De Barro, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme in aid of the UNDP's Caravane du Millénaire.

The gala evening was inaugurated by Ambassador De Barro, who was accompanied by his wife Anna Maria.

In his welcome address he thanked the management of the Hotel Corinthia Khamsa - particularly its general manager, Moncef Guitouni, for making all the arrangements for the gala dinner in the poolside area.

Ambasssador De Barro thanked the dinner patrons for their support and the entertainers who had offered their time and performance free of charge for a noble cause.

He also thanked Air Malta for offering a Tunis-Malta return ticket as part of a raffle. The resident UN representative, Ambassador Francis Dubois, also expressed his gratitude and gave a brief outline of the aims of the UNDP for which the gala dinner was being held.

Representing the Corinthia Group at this occasion was Romwald Lungaro-Mifsud, general manager marketing, who was accompanied by his wife Vera.

Some 400 diners enjoyed a special delicious menu while enjoying the evening's entertainment - which included a breath-taking gymnastic display by the Tunis School of Circus Entertainment directed by Mohamed Driss.

A young Tunisian couple - Fatma Oussafi and Mohamed M'Saddek - entertained the diners to a session of Argentinian tango.

The well known Tunisian entertainer Lotfi Buchnak's orchestra rendered well known Arabic songs particularly those sung by the Chorale Mosaique which is made up of several young child singers.

But it was the "adult" singers Hassen Dahmani, Belhassen Bousâada and the well known Tunisian cabaret singer, the attractive Nabiha Karaouli, who enlivened the evening with their popular songs.

The gala evening came to an end when Mrs Anna Maria De Barro drew the ticket of the lucky winner of the Tunis-Malta return flight offered by Air Malta.

75 join pilgrimage to Poland

The Divine Mercy Apostolate recently organised a pilgrimage to Poland for a group of 75 people.

The pilgrimage was organised by Marianne Pace, who founded the Divine Mercy Apostolate in 1987, in collaboration with Fr Joseph M. Farrugia, parish priest of St Gregory's, Sliema.

The group was led by Fr Farrugia, with the assistance of Ronnie Puglisevich and his wife Sue as well as Mr Stellini.

On arrival, the group was transferred to the Cracovia Hotel and introduced to their Polish guides Bogumila Sowa and Krzystiof Lesniiak.

Visits were paid to the Our Lady of Mercy convent and the Sanctuary of the Divine Mercy in Lagiewniki.

The mother superior Sr Salvatricze delivered a talk on St Faustyna's life. Mass was also celebrated by Fr Farrugia in the old chapel of the Divine Mercy.

The group also visited St Mary's Basilica in Krakow; the Royal Cathedral at Wawel Hill; the Pauline church at Skalka; the Gothic Franciscan church and the famous church of Nowa Huta which was built during the Solidarity era; the Pauline Monastery and the Chapel of the Black Madonna in Jasna Gora; the wooden church dedicated to Our Lady of Fatima in Zakopane and the Basilica of Our Lady of the Angels in Kalwaria Zebrydowska.

Summer party for BOV employees

Over 800 employees attended the annual staff barbecue, organised by Bank of Valletta.

The event was held for the second time on the pool deck at the Reef Club, Westin Dragonara Resort in St Julian's.

The employees, were treated to an exquisite barbecue dinner and entertained by a live band which was formed for the occasion by nine BOV employees.

The band played 14 popular pop and rock songs to the delight of all present.

The event, which was also attended BOV chief executive officer Tonio Depasquale, ended with an open-air disco party at the Reef Club disco area.

New Quikcash card for students

HSBC Bank Malta plc has launched newly designed Quikcash cards for students as part of its YES 4 Students package.

This newly designed card, which will replace the standard Quikcash card which is currently given to students, will allow HSBC branch employees to immediately identify students who are eligible for all the benefits offered by the HSBC YES 4 Students package.

"HSBC's new Quikcash card for students will help the bank offer students a better and more efficient level of service.

"The newly designed card will enable HSBC employees to instantly know that the customer is eligible for the range of benefits offered by the YES 4 Students package," Godfrey Swain, HSBC head of Marketing and Communications, said.

"These benefits apply to all students who hold an HSBC Student Account and attend either secondary, post-secondary educational institution or University," he added. All students opening new accounts will be issued with the new Quikcash card, while those who have YES 4 Students Quikcash card will be issued a new one upon renewal of their existing card.

For more information contact any HSBC branch in Malta and Gozo or by the HSBC's customer help line on 8007-4444.

Miss Malta is Miss Personality

Miss Malta, Dana Ben Moussa, placed fourth during this year's Miss Mediterranean Pageant. The pageant was held recently at Abu Dhabi and Dubai, with contestants from 25 Mediterranean countries.

Obtaining the title Miss Personality, Ms Ben Moussa was greeted by Peter Cassar Parnis, general manager of Michael Attard Ltd, Peugot Motors' representatives in Malta, and presented with a cheque.

Launch of "Faces of Africa"

Faces of Africa, an exhibition by Maltese artist C.S. Lawrence was recently inaugurated by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Michael Frendo, at the Casinò di Venezia in Vittoriosa.

Featuring 25 exclusive pieces, the art exhibition was highly appreciated by the guests during a delightful evening.

The exhibition was organised as part of the Malta-Sicily Windsurf Race - 20 Years After programme.

The Casinò di Venezia, set up at the Captain's Palace on the waterfront overlooking the Grand Harbour Marina in Vittoriosa, presented an imposing backdrop.

The mayor of Pozzallo, Sicily, Dr Roberto Ammatuna, and Fabrizio Floridia, alderman for tourism, sport and entertainment in Pozzallo, were also present during the inauguration.

The Malta-Sicily Windsurf Race - 20 Years After is sponsored by the Bank of Valletta, Globalair Travel and Tourism, S & D Yachts Ltd, the Casinò di Venezia, and H2 Only purified drinking water.

This special edition of the Pozzallo race, scheduled for the third week of September, is also going to be used as a platform to raise funds for Ir-Razzett tal-Hbiberija.

German honour for six Maltese artists

Last Tuesday German Ambassador Gedrg Merten presented honorary memberships of the K18 (artists') Group of Düsseldorf to six Maltese artists - Anton Agius, Nikki Arnett Depasquale, Gabriel Caruana, Joe Genovese, Tony Mangion and Arthur "Turo" Rizzo - in a ceremony at Villa Tempra, Mgarr.

Earlier this year former President Guido de Marco, received an R.O. Schabbach sculpture award or his support of the group leader's exhibitions. Dame Françoise Tempra returned with the honours from the Tempra Summer Academy in Germany where their works were on show.

After paying tribute to each one of the artists, she said that their works will be featured at the Tempra Summer Academy being held from September 22 to 27 at La Colombara culture and leisure village, Occhiobello di Rovigno, near Venice Airport.

Artists and art lovers wishing to attend the Summer Academy can benefit from a special Air Malta return fare (Contact: Victor Mifsud, Air Malta Charter Sales on 2299-9145, e-mail: Victor.mifsud@airmalta.com.mt).

Diddl toys weekend at Bay Street

To celebrate the introduction of Diddl soft toys in Malta, Bay Street, together with Pedigree Toy Shop recently hosted a Diddl weekend at Bay Street. The event was organised by the Bay Street events team together with the BKids entertainer Ginger.

Ginger hosted a number of fun games where the children had the opportunity to win various Diddl give aways. The event came to an end with a breakdance performance, followed by a superb show by one of Malta's top illusionist Brian Rolè who was assisted by his companion Lola.

People

Marika Farrugia recently graduated from the University of Leicester, UK, with an M.Sc in Marketing with Distinction. Her dissertation was entitled "Relationship marketing in training services: A conceptual framework for understanding the development of business relationships".

Ms Farrugia has undertaken a study on relationship marketing in training services by developing an empirically process model for understanding the development of long-term satisfying training institution-client relationships.

The findings can serve as a basis for further research in building relationship marketing in other professional services.

Ms Farrugia, who also holds the Chartered Institute of Marketing (UK) post-graduate Diploma in Marketing, currently works at Maltacom, where she has been assigned managerial posts in marketing and training.

Dr Ian Spiteri Bailey was recently conferred with the degree of Master of Laws in European Union (Employment & Social Policy) Law from the University of Leicester, UK.

Throughout his studies, Dr Spiteri Bailey submitted papers on the functioning of the European Court of Justice, the free movement of workers, industrial democracy and the involvement of workers in decision-making procedures in undertakings in the EU and the European Employment Strategy.

He completed his two-and-a-half-year course with a dissertation entitled "A critical analysis of the new employment legislation in Malta with particular reference to the provisions on part-time workers and fixed term contracts of employment".

Dr Spiteri Bailey is partner in the law firm Balzan & Spiteri Bailey Advocates and has been legal adviser to the UHM for the past eight years.

He is specialised in Employment and Industrial Relations Law, is a part-time judicial assistant at the Law Courts and also serves as a Commissioner for Justice. He has also been a member of the executive committee of the Chamber of Advocates for the past five years.

In May, Dr Spiteri Bailey published a brief booklet entitled Drittijiet tal-Haddiema Maltin fl-Unjoni Ewropeja, obtainable from the UHM offices in Floriana.

sbailey@euroweb.net.mt

The President and Mrs Fenech Adami's engagements - September 6-12

Tuesday
10.30 a.m. The President receives members of the National Commission for the Promotion of Equality for Men and Women at the Palace, Valletta.

6.30 p.m. The President and Mrs Fenech Adami preside over a Malta Community Chest Fund board meeting at San Anton Palace.

Wednesday
9.30 a.m. The President and Mrs. Fenech Adami attend a concelebrated Mass on the occasion of Victory Day at St John's Co-Cathedral followed by a wreath-laying ceremony at the Great Siege Monument, Valletta

11.30 The President is presented with the Master Plan of Vittoriosa by Dr Ray Bondin, executive co-ordinator of the Cottonera Rehabilitation Project at the Armoury, Vittoriosa.

Friday
10 a.m. The President receives the president and committee members of KSU accompanied by foreign students, members of MedNet, at the Palace, Valletta.

St Peter's Catholic Action producing fact-file memento

St Peter's Catholic Action was, until the Eighties, a household name within the Birkirkara community. Ever since its inception in 1932 Ic-Cirkolu, as it was affectionately known, was inspired by Christian teaching and was instrumental in stimulating Catholic values in many youngsters and children in the neighbourhood.

Hundreds of members benefited from all the good work during the 50-year life span of the Cirkolu. Various educational, cultural and sports activities were organised with an appreciable degree of dedication towards social assistance, while a youth centre, which shared the same ideals, was set up in the very early Sixties.

A number of people who were members of the Cirkolu during different periods, ranging from the Fifties to the Seventies, have recently set up an action committee to form a fact-file memento. The memento will be launched during a grand reunion to be organised eventually.

All those who frequented the Cirkolu are to contact the members of this action-committee, namely Joe Aquilina, Mike Borg, Salvu Demicoli, Architect Anthony Fenech Vella, David Galea, Paul Micallef, Joe Sammut and Lawrence Spiteri Bailey; or send a self-addressed envelope to Birkirkara council.

For your diary

The Singles Social Circle is organising a Comino Boat trip on Sunday. The group will meet in front of the Riviera Hotel, Marfa, at noon. For tickets, at Lm2.50 for adults and Lm1.50 for children, phone 2142-1337 or 2142-1337 by Friday.