When the chairman of One group, Jason Micallef, sent me an e-mail a few weeks ago, and asked me what I was doing on the 22nd April, I glanced at my diary and replied that I wasn't doing anything but that if he was going to invite me to some event, parking has to be easily available.
Jason told me that One TV was celebrating 25 years of broadcasting so this year's One Tribute was a special anniversary edition. It was taking place at the Manoel Theatre and I was to receive a Lifetime's Achievement Award. As to transport - there would be a taxi. This, (not the taxi but the Award) completely took me by surprise but I was naturally delighted, too, absolutely delighted.
The French have given me a Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres some years ago, which I treasure. But to be acknowledged in one's own country is different. As a friend said: "They don't dish out these Awards very easily, believe me."
Complaints about the minor decrepitudes of old age - my daily exchanges with my sisters - are more common than awards, at this stage of my life. At least I'm not into 'growling, prowling, scowling and owling' as put by Sir Nicholas Fairburn in his entry in the Who's Who. Not yet anyway.
So yes, this news was a palatable tonic indeed and I am very grateful.
The 'big' day arrived and I went along with my two daughters to the Manoel Theatre. It was a Gala evening and I miraculously managed to get into one of my long dresses and only because I avoided eating chocolate for three days. Such misery.
The other two women receiving the award that evening were Notary Miriam Spiteri Debono, who was Speaker when Dr Sant was Prime Minister and the first woman to be in that position and Nancy Buhagiar of World Marketing who is so well known on One TV and has had her own programme since the station was set up.
Each presenter read out a short biography of the awardee and then presented the trophy engraved with our name, after which the awardees made a short acceptance speech.
Here I failed, if not miserably, almost. I had thought of a few sentences in English however, I realised that I had to speak in Maltese if I were not to be branded as tal-pepe. Everyone was speaking in beautiful Maltese. So I was translating my sentences into Maltese in my head. Not a good idea.
My daughters complained later on that I had spoken for three minutes which was too long and I had come across as if I were preaching. Anyway, troppo tardi, all is now over.
A very pretty, tall and slim girl by the name of Katrina Pavia was handling the trophies.
Mrs Michelle Muscat presented Ambassador Ray Azzopardi with his trophy. The Prime Minister and Jason Micallef presented Dr Sant with his. Who deserves it more? He has done so much for Malta and continues to promote Malta and look after its interests in Brussels. He is very well qualified for this role and we need him there.
This wasn't just an evening of presentations. The Kinetic Dancers, members of the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra and the Anamae Gospel Choir entertained the audience and kept us interested. Moreover, both the PM and Jason Micallef gave short speeches.
Others who received Awards that evening were Duncan Micallef, well-known in the car racing world I believe; Paul Target for the many sets he has created for One TV; Mrs Carmen Pellegrini on behalf of her late husband Ronnie; Michael Zammit Tabona of Fortina, Captain Morgan and more who did so much for tourism in Malta; the journalist Emmanuel Cuschieri; the members of One Fan Club and the late Joe Attard whose wife was there to receive the trophy as was his daughter Annabelle Stivala.
I was presented with my trophy by the inimitable Simone Cini who seems to grow more attractive and more slim as the years go by.
Others who presented the awards were Carmen Abela, the well-known voice of One Radio, President of the Labour Party Daniel Micallef, presenter Anna Bonnett, the journalist Antoinette Falzon, Roberto Francalanza, Marisa D'Amato the Country & Western singer and presenter, Dr Randolph Debattista, Chief Executive of the Labour Party, the journalist Antoinette Falzon and Jason Busuttil, Director of One TV and Mark Cutajar.
It was an extremely well-organised event and praise has to go to Ruth Vella Micallef, Executive Group Head, Broadcasting who was heading the team, if team there was.
The event was compèred by Joseph Checuti to whom compèring has become second nature.
Together with our trophy we were given a CD Rom with a very interesting documentary about One TV and its history.
It all began in 1994, three years after One Radio started broadcasting. Miriam Dalli who was the first woman to become Head of News and now the popular MEP, Simone Cini, Claudette Baldacchino, Ray Azzopardi who was head of News on Radio One, Joe Borg, and others have all been associated with the station. Some were very young, learning fast and working hard when it all began.
Norman Hamilton started presenting Bla Agenda 20 years ago. Our Prime Minister, Dr Joseph Muscat, a young, well-rounded journalist then, had interviewed Archbishop Mercieca who had apologised on television for the Church's behaviour during the Mintoff years. If that wasn't a scoop, then I don't know what is.
Some of those who worked for One TV 25 years ago are still there. It is thanks to people like Martin Baldacchino first engineer, Louis Agius, camera man, Lino Grima, senior technical officer that One TV took off. _________________________________
The idea to set up a TV station was Dr Alfred Sant's who always had vision. It was a time when the Labour Party had no tools to broadcast its message. Before the 1992 election the state TV station had broadcast the news that there had been a violent incident in Malta perpetrated by members of the Labour Party. This was false - fake as we say nowadays. So, it was realised that it was about time the Labour Party had its own television station.
They did not wait until the appropriate law was promulgated. So they started transmitting. They were testing and they were using cartoons to do the testing. So, rumour had it that Alfred Sant was running a station with cartoons. Then there were rumours that the transmitter was going to cause cancer. So finally they started transmitting from Ghargur.
There was a loyal following right from the start and people queued for hours sometimes, to buy an antenna to be able to watch One TV.
Open days, which were to be so popular, drew many people who wanted to meet the personalities appearing on television.
Both the Labour Party and One TV have always promoted women which they still do.
A reception at MUZA followed and we agreed that it was an exceptionally enjoyable evening.
The highlight possibly was seeing Dr Sant wearing a bowtie.
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