Governor’s Award for Merit

The Governor of Gibraltar, Sir David Steel bestowed two Governor’s Award for Merit to two Gibraltarian individuals at The Convent yesterday afternoon.

Joseph Acris and Emily Adamberry Olivero MBE both received awards from the Governor on Thursday; Joseph for service to the Gibraltar International Airport and the Travel Industry, and Emily for Services to Mental Health and the Civil Service.

The Governor’s Award for Merit is separate from the State Honours and Gibraltar Awards processes, and has a limit of 25 awards per year.

The Award received is an inscribed glass medallion, with a certificate, awards are made at any time during the year, at the discretion of The Governor.

Emily Adamberry Olivero and Joseph Acris both received the Governor’s Award for Merit on Thursday at the Convent, for their service to the local community.

Ms Adamberry Olivero, was recognised for services to mental health and the civil service and Mr Acris was recognised for services to the Gibraltar International Airport and the travel industry.

The Governor, Sir David Steel, was joined by Minister for Tourism, Vijay Daryanani, to present the awards for merit.

Through the Governor’s Awards, Sir David said he wanted to personally recognise what people have done for the community aside from the state honour.

“Two years ago, when I first arrived here, I very quickly recognised that the number of people who contributed very quietly to the community inGibraltar was significant and they were not getting the recognition that I wanted them to have,” Sir David said.

“I wanted it to be a very special award.”

He thanked Ms Adamberry Olivero for her work achieved through Clubhouse Gibraltar.

“it is with my personal gratitude for all that you have achieved for Gibraltar over so many years,” he said.

Ms Adamberry Olivero founded mental health charity Clubhouse Gibraltar over a decade ago, and recently retired earlier this year taking on the role of Chair for the charity’s Board of Directors.

Ms Adamberry Olivero said she felt “very humbled” and “very proud” to receive the “special award”.

She decribed the occasion as a “very special moment”.

“It’s been a 30-year journey, I had a vision of trying to improve the quality of life for people affected by mental illness, having been very closely affected in my own family.”

Sir David then described Mr Acris, duty manager of Gibraltar International Airport as an “unsung hero” at the airport.

“Getting the airport to operate and to do so, so efficiently… the way that you manage people, you make everybody feel welcome in Gibraltar,” he said.

Mr Acris said he felt “very proud” to receive the award.

“I love what I do,” he said.

He said he will carry on doing his job for as long as possible.

Sir David told those in attendance that many members of the community had also put the recipients’ names forward.

“The two of you have very much been my choice, but other people have written in as well to nominate you for these awards.”