NATIONAL ORDER OF MERIT
COMPANION
PROSPERO GRECH K.O.M.
Grech was born in 1925 in Birgu. He studied at the Lyceum and served as gunner in the University Home guard during the war. In 1943, Grech joined the Augustinian Order and seven years later was ordained at San Giovanni Laterano in Rome.
Grech graduated Doctor of Theology from the Gregorian University, Rome (1953), obtained a Licentiate in Sacred Scripture from the Pontifical Biblical Institute, Rome (1954) and a Diploma in Educational Psychology from Fribourg, Switzerland (1951). Grech conducted research in Semitic languages at Oxford (1957-58) and Cambridge (1958-59) Universities.
In 1959, Grech was appointed lecturer at the Augustinian Theological College, Rabat. He also served as secretary at the Vatican vicarate and professor at the Augustine Institute, Rome. In 1970, together with Fr Agostino Trap, Grech founded the Istituto Patristico Augostinianum, Rome and served as its President (1971-1979).
Grech lectured for over 30 years at the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome on hermeneutics. He was professor of Biblical Theology at the Lateran University, Rome, Counsellor to the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith and Secretary of the Maltese Augustinian province. He was also nominated Apostolic Visitor for seminaries in India.
OFFICER
ALFRED BONNICI U.O.M.
Born in St Julian’s, Bonnici received his education at St Aloysius College, the Lyceum and the University of Malta where he graduated BPharm (1954), MD (1958) and MA (Melit) in 2011. In 1973, he graduated at The Royal Air Force Institute of Aviation Medicine (UK).
Bonnici is an aviation medical consultant acting for most international aviation agencies, having been appointed for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), in the United States of America, a senior aviation medical examiner in 1968, and for the Civil Aviation Authority in the United Kingdom in 1972, chairman of the Malta Civil Aviation Medical Board (1975) and since 1974 Chief Medical Officer of Airmalta.
Bonnici was also highly active in politics. In 1962, he was elected to parliament on behalf of the Partit Nazzjonalista and served as Speaker of the House of Representatives (1966-71). He was re-elected in 1971 and was a representative for the Council of Europe (1965-66, 1972-76) serving in various committees and as secretary to the parliamentary group (1964-66, 1971-76). In 1966, Bonnici was nominated president of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association.
Bonnici is President of the Malta Philatelic Association, Fellow of the Royal Philatelic Society London, and editor of the Malta Philatelic Society Journal.
He is the author of Half Penny Malta Queen Victoria Yellow in The Postal History and Postage Stamps of Malta compiled by the Malta Study Circle of UK and was awarded gold medals in philatelic exhibitions in Vienna, Barcelona, Milan, Rome and Tokyo.
HONORARY MEMBER
TIMOTHY ROWLAND MORLEY M.O.M.
Born in 1939, Morley was educated at Wellington College before going to Cambridge University to read medicine.
He qualified as a Doctor of Medicine in 1963 and after two years as junior doctor he was appointed as the first rotating surgical registrar at Southampton. For the next three years he trained in General Surgery, Vascular Surgery, Neurosurgery and Orthopaedics. During this time he passed the Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons.
Morley specialised as a children’s spinal surgeon with particular interest in Scoliosis. Having worked at King’s College Hospital he was appointed as a Consultant Orthopaedic Spinal Surgeon at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital in 1978.
Morley was President of the British Scoliosis Society and the Orthopaedic Section of the Royal Society of Medicine.
Morley first came to Malta 30 years ago. He started to run clinics in Malta in 1985 and operated on a regular basis on children with spinal deformity working closely with the local spinal orthopaedic surgeons.
MEMBERS
VICTOR AQUILINA M.Q.R.
Born in Sliema in 1942, Aquilina joined the Malta Allied Newspapers in 1964 as a reporter. He also served as features editor, and later deputy editor. Aquilina has been writer for The Times since 1971. He was also Malta correspondent for the Associated Press and United Press International.
Aquilina was appointed editor of The Times in 1993, and on his retirement from the post in 2003 he was appointed editorial adviser for the newspaper.
Aquilina is a former secretary of the Malta Branch of the Institute of Journalists (UK), and of Allied Newspapers and Progress Press Workers’ Union, and a member of the International Press Institute.
In May 2010, Aquilina received the Institute of Maltese Journalists’ Gold Award in recognition of his contribution to journalism.
CARMELO CAMILLERI M.O.M.
Born in Valletta in 1954, Camilleri is the fourth generation of C. Camilleri & Sons – popularly known as Camilleri tal-Ħelu. When Camilleri took over the business in 1980, the business had only four employees. Through Camilleri’s initiative, Camilleri Group has diversified and today it has more than 320 employees the majority of whom are women. Camilleri is Managing Director of Camilleri Group of Companies that is composed of C. Camilleri & Sons Limited, Camilleri Establishments Ltd, Camilleri Trading Ltd, C. Camilleri & Sons (Catering) Ltd, Camilleri Trends Ltd and Camilleri Holdings Ltd. The business has also expanded in Libya.
This year, Camilleri, as Managing Director of the Camilleri Group, was chosen as finalist for the Entrepreneur of the year by the European Business Awards and was awarded the prestigious Ruban D’Honneur.
Camilleri was Secretary and later also President of the General & Retailers Union (1980-1989), Member on the Valletta Rehabilitation Committee (1999-2008), Director of GO Mobile Communications Ltd and GO Mobile Ltd (2001-2007), Director of Maltacom (2005-2006), Director of Innovate Software Limited (2005- 2006), Director of Coreswitch Ltd (2005- 2006), Director Holiday Malta Co. Ltd (2006-2008) and Director Water Services Corporation since 2008.
Camilleri was a Committee Member, Treasurer and President of Valletta FC (2000-2007), Governor of Valletta Alive Foundation (2004-2008) and as from 2008 a Committee Member and presently President of the Società Filarmonica Nazionale La Valette.
GEORGE CAMILLERI M.O.M.
Born in Valletta in 1936, Camilleri received his education at the Lyceum and later at the University of Malta where he qualified Bachelor of Dental Surgery (1957). He subsequently continued his postgraduate education, obtaining a HDD (1959) from Glasgow and a FDSRCS (1960) from Edinburgh. He was awarded Hon Fellowships in Dental Surgery from the Royal College of Surgeons and Physicians of Glasgow (2002) and of the Royal College of Surgeons of England (2011).
Camilleri was awarded the Quintin Hogg research fellowship at the Royal College of Surgeons of England (1962-64). He served as consultant dental surgeon with the public health services (1964-1970) and as senior dental surgeon (1970-81). He was appointed professor of dental surgery at the University of Malta (1964-78 and 1987-2001) and served as dean (1970-78, 1987-1992). He is presently a Visiting Professor in Dental Surgery at the University of Malta and an Honorary Senior Research Fellow in the Unit of the History of Dentistry, Dental Institute, King’s College, London. Camilleri served as president to both the Association of Surgeons and Physicians of Malta (1973-74) and the Dental Association of Malta (1985-89).
NICHOLAS DE PIRO D’AMICO INGUANEZ M.O.M.
Born in St Julian’s, De Piro is the ninth baron of Budach, KM. He was educated at Worth Preparatory School and at Downside, United Kingdom.
De Piro opened Casa Rocca Piccola, originally built in the 16th century for Don Pietro La Rocca, a Knight of Malta. Casa Rocca Piccola is the network of underground passages and tunnels cut out of the rock over its 400-year history.
De Piro has served as a council member of the Poetry Society of Cheltenham; is a founder member of Fondazzjoni Patrimonju Malti, a member of the Committee of Privileges of the Maltese Nobility, rector of the Archconfraternity of the Most Holy Rosary; a past Chancellor of the Maltese Association of the Order of Malta; and a nominated past member of the government committee of guarantee of Malta’s cultural heritage.
De Piro produced a number of publications on historical heritage of Malta.
ETHEL FARRUGIA M.O.M.
At a young age, Ethel Farrugia was already interested in the theatre and acted with many local companies including the MADC.
Farrugia furthered her studies at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and Bristol University Drama Department where she trained as an actress and followed courses in music and singing. In 1962, Farrugia obtained a diploma as an Associate of the Drama Board, London.
She worked briefly with the Nottingham Playhouse, the Theatre Royal Windsor, and the Aldwych in London. She later toured in Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale and Moliere’s The Misanthrope. In 1967, Farrugia appeared in the Edinburgh Festival in A Midsummer Night’s Dream and in Molière’s Scapin. Farrugia also worked for BBC TV and has appeared in the 20th century film The Magus starring Anthony Quinn and Michael Cain.
She worked hard for the establishment of the Manoel Theatre as Malta’s national theatre. She set up the Manoel Theatre Club, and organised for the first time a professional drama course. This was the beginning of the Manoel Theatre School of Dramatic Art.
In the field of music, Farrugia organised monthly vocal and instrumental concerts in the British Council premises later establishing a full scale symphony orchestra to perform in the Radio City and the Manoel Theatre, later to become the Malta National Orchestra.
ACHILLE MIZZI M.O.M.
Born in Żabbar in 1939, Mizzi was educated at the De La Salle College, the Seminary and the University of Malta.
Mizzi started his career as a teacher in Government elementary schools(1958- 1962). He joined the Customs Department as an Officer in 1963. In 1988, Mizzi was posted at the Ministry of Education and Culture, where he was involved in the organisation of cultural activities.
In 1995, Mizzi was made Commendatore dell’Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana and honoured with the Croce dell’Ordine al Merito Melitense of the SMOM. Three years later he was appointed member on the Executive Council of the Russian Centre for Science and Culture and in 1999 he was awarded the Russian State Diploma and a commemorative medal for merit and appreciation for his contribution to the Bi-centenary of Pushkin.
Mizzi was a co-founder of the Moviment Qawmien Letterarju of the 60s In 1968, he was accepted as member, and eventually became the President (1994- 2000), of the Akkademja tal-Malti. He published no less than seven books of poetry.
Mizzi won the Malta Government Literary Award in 1994, 1999 and 2008. He has been acclaimed as one of the leading Maltese poets.
MICHAEL J. SCHIAVONE M.O.M.
Born in Senglea, Schiavone received his education at St Augustine College and the Archbishop’s seminary. He graduated BA (Hons.) from the University of Malta in 1990.
In 1968, Schiavone joined the Allied Malta Newspapers while in 1969 he moved to the National Press, today MediaLink Communications. He was appointed the first editor of In-Nazzjon Tagħna in 1970 and editor of Il- Mument 10 years later.
Following his appointment as director of Pubblikazzjonijiet Indipendenza (PIN) in 1989, Schiavone produced more than 300 publications. Together with Dr Charles Briffa, Schiavone is the editor of the Maltese cultural series of 100 volumes Il-Kullana Kulturali, and 15 volumes of Kullana Għat-Tfal. Schiavone is presently editing 18 volumes of the religious-cultural series by Tony Terribile, Teżori fil-Knejjes Maltin.
His publications also include the Maltese Biographies of the Twentieth Century co-edited with Louis J. Scerri, and the two volumes of the Dictionary of Maltese Biographies in 2009. Schiavone was also the editor of L-Eku.
Between 2000 and 2011, not less than 30 publications produced by PIN and edited by Briffa and Schiavone were awarded various prizes by the National Book Council. In 2007, Schiavone was awarded the Special Lifetime Award for his contribution to the Maltese Book by the National Book Council, and in 2011 he was awarded the Gold Award of the Maltese Journalism Awards by the Institute of Maltese Journalists.
FRANCIS STIVALA M.O.M.
Born in Sliema, Francis Stivala read for a Bachelor of Science, a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Economics and a Master of Science in Mathematics and Computing at the University of Malta.
Stivala is the pioneer in developing the English as a Foreign Language (EFL) profession and industry in Malta.
Stivala started to build this venture on professional lines when he was an active student leader within the Student Representative Council (SRC/KSU) just over 40 years ago. He took the Council’s National Student Travel Service (NSTS) to new heights and was instrumental in transforming it into the National Student Travel Foundation (NSTF).
Throughout his tenure at NSTF, Stivala has made a name for Malta in the international student and youth educational travel community and among governmental and international tourism organisations. For over 35 years, he served as board member and chairman of a multitude of international associations, federations and trusts where he introduced significant changes and advancements. Among his current international responsibilities, Stivala is Chairman of the Congress of the World Youth, Student, Educational Travel Confederation which embraces a diverse membership from over 60 countries worldwide.
GAETANO VELLA M.O.M.
Born in 1960, Vella proved to be a proficient trade unionist that eventually served as Secretary General of the Union Ħaddiema Magħqudin for a number of years.
Vella started his career in the hospitality industry prior to joining UĦM as a member in March 1982. Vella was later called to sit on the Executive Committee of the Private Sector Section within the Union. In 1989, Vella was appointed the first Secretary for the Hotels, Food and Beverages Section of the Union. He continued to advance further within the Union and eventually became a General Council member. In 1998, Vella was elected Secretary General of the Union Ħaddiema Magħqudin, a position he relinquished in October 2011.
Vella represented the UĦM on various committees, boards and authorities both locally and internationally, including the Occupational Health and Safety Authority, the Malta European Union Steering Action Committee, the Employment Relations Board and the Foundation for Human Resources Development. Vella also represented the UĦM on the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development.
MIDALJA
GHALL-QADI
TAR-REPUBBLIKA
GRACE ATTARD M.Q.R.
Grace Attard, a teacher by profession, is a dedicated voluntary worker in various spheres. She is serving her second term as President of the National Council of Women. During her presidency, the Council was also established as a Centre of Learning in ICT, Empowerment of Women, and Lifelong Learning Programmes.
She chaired the Working Group on Gender Equality Legislation (2004), and Domestic Violence Legislation (2006), and was a member of the Working Group on Early Childhood Education and on Legislation on the Voluntary sector.
She has been a member of the EU Commission Advisory Committee on Gender Equality, working on women in the media, the role of men in gender equality, and women in research and science.
Attard is an expert in the European Gender Institute, member of the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development (MCESD) Civil Society and the National Consultative Council for Enterprise, and is the co-chair of the Committee on Women in Research and Science within the Malta Council for Science and Technology (MCST).
WILLIAM CHETCUTI M.Q.R.
Born in 1985 and a resident of Manikata, Chetcuti practically won all the local double trap competitions organised by The Malta Shooting Sport Federation and was sponsored by the Malta Olympic Committee to participate in a number of overseas encounters.
In 2001, at the age of 16, Chetcuti won his first silver and gold in seniors at the GSSE (San Marino) and the Mediterranean Shooting Championship (Malta) respectively.
His success continued between 2002 to 2004 when he won a bronze in the Double Trap at the Manchester Commonwealth Games, and silver in juniors at the European Championship in Italy. He won gold in seniors during the GSSE games (Malta), in juniors during the European Championship (Cyprus) and at the International Junior Grand Prix. He placed fourth at the European Championship (Czech Republic) and ninth at the Athens Olympics and broke both a European Record and a World Record.
Between 2005 and 2010, Chetcuti won bronze at the Mediterranean Games (Almeria) and at the Melbourne Commonwealth Games, and silver in juniors at the European Championship, the ISSF World Cup (Belgrade) and in the Mediterranean Games (Pescara). He won gold at the World Juniors Championship (Germany) and the GSSE (Andorra). Chetcuti participated in the ISSF World Cup (Brazil), placed fourth in Dubai, eight in the Beijing Olympic Games, and sixth in the ISSF European Championship (Cyprus), and a finalist in the European Championships held in Cyprus and Russia.
In 2011, Chetcuti had a string of successes. He won gold in the ISSF World Cup (Beijing); came first in the Italian Double Trap Championship and in the Malta International Double Trap Grand Prix; third in the International Double Trap Grand Prix (Italy), finalist in the European Championship and fifth in the ISSF World Championship both held in Belgrade; and qualified in the ISSF World Cup in Abu Dhabi.
Between 2002 and 2009 Chetcuti was voted as the Maltese Sportsman of the year for no less than seven times.
THOMAS JULIAN CREMONA M.Q.R
Born in 1988, Thomas Julian Cremona had to undergo treatment for leukemia at a very tender age. Since the age of eight years, Cremona has shown a positive disposition to sport and participated in various athletic events on behalf of St Patrick’s Athletics Club.
Initially, Cremona focused on ‘sprint’ events, then ‘middle-distance’ events followed by a ‘half-marathon’ and a ‘full-marathon’. Cremona also participated in a few biathlons besides venturing into mountain-bike racing. Cremona participated in philanthropic events that included swimming from Gozo to Malta and taking part in the LifeCycle Challenge 2006 to raise funds for the local renal unit.
A month after he sat for his final session of the ACCA examinations, Cremona started his Row4Cancer campaign in preparation of his attempt to row across the Atlantic. Concurrently, he strove successfully to break a 20-hour world record on the Concept2 rowing machine. This record was achieved in Plymouth, England. Cremona delivered the 24-hour world record on the Concept2 Longest Continual Row in Malta on 12 December, 2010.
As part of the six-man crew of Sara G, Cremona broke the world record for the ‘fastest Atlantic row in a monohull’ as duly recorded by the Ocean Rowing Society International and the Guinness World Records. The crew rowed 2,753 nautical miles from Tarfaya, Morocco to Barbados, West Indies in 33 days, 21 hours, 46 minutes from 5 January to 8 February 2011.
ENZO GUSMAN M.Q.R.
Born in Sliema and educated at the Lyceum and the University of Malta, Gusman joined Barclays Bank in 1965 and pursued a career in banking in Malta and Canada, where he settled in 1979.
Gusman was the first disc-jockey to include Maltese records on Radio and takes a keen interest in promoting Maltese artists. In 1968, he started to work with Rediffusion and in 1980 he worked with CHIN Radio/TV based in Toronto, Canada. He returned to Xandir Malta in 1991 and then proceeded to Bay Radio, PBS, Super One, Radio 101, NET TV and Calypso Radio.
He started taking part in festivals in 1960, aged 13. He won various festivals including Canzoni d’Oggi, Festival della Canzone Napoletana, Malta Song Festival, Malta Folk Festival and L-Għanja tal-Poplu. Gusman’s other awards include second place in the Alexandra International Festival in Egypt (1972), Best Singer at Olympiade de la Chanson in Greece (1972), First Prize at the Golden Orpheus Festival in Bulgaria (1976), Best Performer at the Turkiye International Festival (1976) and Best Singer at Castlebar Festival in Ireland (1986).
PAUL HABER M.Q.R.
Born in Xewkija, Haber established himself in the art scene with his first exhibition at the National Museum in 1972. However, his formal studies and practice had started much before. From a young age and through the influence of his father Peter, Haber spent most of his spare time working with his hands making creative objects.
Leaving his family home in Gozo, where the art scene consisted of a few artists working in churches, he entered the Government School of Art in Malta. Haber won scholarships to Italy and the UK, gaining a locally-unprecedented degree in ceramics which had become his preferred medium of self-expression. His earliest works in ceramics date to 1962, when a UK ceramist had been brought over to conduct a pottery course for art teachers.
Haber’s career as a ceramist consists of three aspects, that of educator first and foremost, leaving a perceptible influence on many of today’s students and ceramists; the founder of Alka Ceramics Studio producing fine artistic ceramics for the export market especially the USA, and finally as an exceptional artist who gave another dimension to the medium of ceramics.
ROSA MICALLEF JUDGE M.Q.R.
Rosa Micallef Judge started her music career in Malta obtaining the Licentiate of the Royal Schools of Music. She continued her studies as an Associated Board Scholar in pianoforte and harp at the Royal Academy of Music in London.
In 1970, she was appointed Hon. Representative in London for the Manoel Theatre, and was later Chairperson of the Hospital Committee for Maltese patients undergoing treatment in London. On her return to Malta in 1972, she was appointed Hon. Representative of the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music. She was the first woman member to be appointed on the Commission for Higher Education under the Darendorf Commission.
She was a member of the Council and Hon. Secretary of the Community Chest Fund from 1977 to 1994. She is an Associate Board Music Scholar, an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music and an Honorary Member of the Royal College of Music.
In 1982 she was created Cavaliere dell’Umanità by the Società Internazionale dell’Unione Cavalleria Cristiana of Italy. In 1993, she was invested Cavaliere dell’Umanità Marchesa of the Holy Roman Empire whilst in 1994 she was invested Chevalier dans l’Ordre Des Arts et Des Lettres.
CARMELO VELLA M.Q.R.
Vella was born in Paola in 1936. Later his family moved to Birżebbuġa and then to St Julian’s where he spent his formative years. In 1954, Vella migrated to Australia.
Vella’s association with Malta Eagles dates to the year of the team’s formation in Sydney in 1955. Then, in 1956 the club amalgamated with the Melita Football Club when Vella was the club’s President. Vella served as the Melita Football Club President, coach and even goalkeeper. He is now honoured as Life Member. His love for soccer led him to the world of journalism when in 1957 he helped to produce a magazine called Soccer Light.
His career took a further step in the early 1960s when he was Sports Editor for the Sydney-based Malta News. In 1961, when the popular newspaper, The Maltese Herald, commenced publication, Vella had his own column on sports.
In 1971, Vella took over as editor and has become sole owner of the newspaper since 1983.
On the 28 July of this year, The Maltese Herald celebrated 50 years from its first publication.