The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

Maita medal for RAF veteran Country honoring those who fought for freedom By BARB JOY Oakville Beaver Staff A tiny island in the Mediterranean Sea became one of the trump cards the Allies dealt their enemies during World War II. And one Oakville man had a hand in it. Bill Robinson, then with the Royal Air Force, was stationed in Malta in the early 1940s and recently received the Malta George Cross Fiftieth Anniversary Medal for it. He said the strategic location of Malta could not be overlooked. A barely discemnible speck on the world map, it became what British Prime Minister Winston Churchill dubbed the "unsinkable aircraft camier." A British Crown Colony at the time, the 95â€"squareâ€"mile island was an important wartime naval base conâ€" trolling the vital sea lanes carrying troops and supplies between Africa, Sicily and Italy. Such an important link was bound to attract the attention of the enemy. And it did. At one point in the war, the Maltese people and their defenders "from all over the world" endured 170 days of nonâ€"stop bombing in one of the many sieges the island was subjected to. At anothâ€" er point in the hostilities they were almost starved out of existence. But the Axis failed to knock out this small strategic area even though many buildings were demolished and over 2,000 of its 300,000 civilians killed, as well as many servicemen. When the enemy bombers came over, Robinson said armed service " STENCIL CLASSES ° You just can‘t beat the M (Tassics .. arnBP Sund%,DSegt. 26tN al ~ HOW J HNSON HOTEL OAKVILLE 560 Argus Rd. Qakville 2 Shows +. BDonictel Call 1-()9!'2[']":132?: _Y_ _ 845â€"0341 2 OAKVILLE PAINT & WALLPAPER LTD. 257 Lakeshore Rd. E., Oakville _ )0 Free Parking 338â€"940£ _ . ; onents Featuring mary of the area‘s prem? wedding oriented business" CC .56 .5 and smothered in sauteed mushrooms. y Classic dinners all include a delicious Keg Caesar Salad, baked potato, with all the toppings, accompanied by Keg‘s special crispy onion rings and a heaping helping of The Keg‘s friendly atmosphere. Come to The Keg for the Classics. Just be sure to bring a Classic appetite. _/ he Keg Classic Dinners. The Classic Sirloin. The Classic New York. The Classic Prime Rib. Hearty, fullâ€"course dinners with all the trimmings for one, all inclusive price. Choose from The Keg‘s tasty Classic Prime Rib, or our tender, perfectly aged steaks â€" mesquiteâ€"grilled, sizzling e l“‘â€""iiiaf' ; *«‘ > ‘Sos T « ,‘4.‘\ Prime Rib Classic ‘ »; 6 & ‘4ien _( C arad? 4 a L -/:/ 3 14â€" CPn) New York Classic > k> fi’\/ CZ ‘16" KEG RESTAURANTS LTD. 220 North Service Road, Oakville 8§42â€"7333 @ Smrloim Classic Bill Robinson with medal: a surprise from Malta. personnel went underground to conâ€" â€" allowed in 10 j duct their operations from the many _ the George Cro natural passages the sea had formed ed to the Mal over countless years. He recalled how _ King George \ prisoners â€" and there were lots of and which is them because the Maitese justice sysâ€" _ Maltese nations tem was tough ("You could get seven Since he w or eight years for stealing a bobbin of _ the time, Robir thread or a box of soap") â€" built diplomatic c semicircular stone "pens" around the Canadian gove aircraft on the field and how he ing of the aw helped throw camouflage nets over _ would have ha the top to hide the planes from enemy _ British governn eyes. Robinson 1 ‘In the invasion of Sicily, I helped bury them on the beaches. They had been with me in Maita," he said. "On the craft going in, we were told that if we didn‘t get a foot in there, we had to get out as best we could." As part of the RAF‘s ground crew, Robinson helped keep the planes flyâ€" ing when the Allies went in to attack Africa. Sicily and Italy. Among his medals are the Africa Star and Bar and the Italy Star and Bar. Last year, the Government of Malta chose to remember all those, servicemen and civilians alike, who so gallantly defended the island. It struck a medal â€" one of two legally 51345 allowed in 10 years â€" incorporating the George Cross which was presentâ€" ed to the Maltese government by King George VI of Britain in 1942 and which is represented in the Maltese national flag. Since he was a British citizen at the time, Robinson had to be granted diplomatic clearance from the Canadian government for the grantâ€" ing of the award. Otherwise, he would have had to apply through the British government, he said. Robinson was ill and could not Rj JTwo Great Shows! Oakville Place presents the wonderful world of Ontario resorts, lodges and inns. Whether you want a weekend getaway or a leisurely full week, speak directly to Resorts Ontario and get all the facts. f 110 Fine Stores and Services Just north of the Q.E.W. and Trafalgar Road. 842â€"2140 Ahhh... Ontario in Autumn! MB crrRep PETERWATSONINVESIMENTSLMTMTED Resor"ts Ontario HI AKVII attend the July 31st ceremony at the Maltese consulate in Toronto where 62 medals were awarded to Canadians, recipients of British backâ€" ground and some Maltese people now living in Canada. He received his medal through registered mail. The medal is not awarded posthuâ€" mously. Another Oakville recipient of the medal was Sidney Cole who served in the Royal Navy. He attended the ceremony in Toronto but declined an interview. ®AKVILLE DPLACTK mmn_mmu 3.9'8 INWE3TMENT PLANMNMING Free Consultation 842â€"7602 Photo by Barrie Erskine) Wfi nt Ex OUR Sheridan College‘s Davis Campus CAD/ICAM (Computer Assisted Design/Computer Assisted Manufacturing) Institute has won three awards of excellence during the annual International Autodesk conference held in Anaheim, California, in June. The Insttute won an award of excellence for instruction and for atten~ dance, plus an award in a new category to honor excellent instructors, Phil Rouble, the Architectural Technologist Program and Architectural Technician Program faculty member who won the excellent instructor award, was the only Canadian to receive this honor. P Sheridan College at the forefront of CAD/CAM technology around the world," said Sheridan CAD/CAM Institute director Sally Omar. P College wins CAD/CAM award "?/"‘ Mb Wt Arrnrr n prrnr ie 195 Lakeshore Rd. E. Downtown Oakville 338â€"3095 mm on i O 'Icv:<:.;g/r.‘4:. 7 ‘ We would like to take this opportunity to thank all our customers for their contribution to our success and to invite everyone to come & see our new facilites. Swing Time GoIf Janet and Susanne look forward to helping you with all your interior decorating needs. Jobson‘s Choice Jobson & sons Ltd. We are also expanding our Interior Decorating Services Downtown Oakville‘s Most Unusual Antique Shop is pleased to anounce the opening of In home consulting fee is only $50.00 which will be deducted from any forthcoming order. |i8r Jobson & Sons Ltd. ';;f/lf:'fy'/‘| Jobson‘s Choice [;ou‘son's c:uoE Let the experts show you how to get into the swinc (of a golf club, of ‘course! ) 'Pw 1 ot them mmtinue | %O’M‘ined Â¥ ___ Let them critique your swing! °* _ Special appearances by Canada‘s better known Canadian Tour Players. Exhibitions in Centre Court each day at Noon, 3 pm, 6 pm and 8 pm Open Mon.â€"Fri. 9:30 am â€" 9 pm Saturdays 9:30 am â€" 6 pm Sundays 12 noon â€" 5 pm Lg 430 South Service Rd. W Oakville 842â€"3095 An extension of our current operation, where you‘ll be able to browse through a treasury of larger antiques. We have over 5,000 sq. feet of beautiful unique furnishings and decorative ware directly on the QEW between Dorval and Fourth Line in Oakville.