A Spanish honour for The Way, My Way ~

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Later this week, the Spanish Ambassador in Canberra will present me an award.

It’s called the Malaspina Award. It’s an honour bestowed by the Spanish Embassy and the Association of Spanish Researchers in Australia-Pacific to an individual and an organisation who have made a significant contribution to the scientific and/or cultural relationship between Spain and Australia.

I will be receiving the Individual Award for my Camino book and film – The Way, My Way.

The Spanish Ambassador to Australia, Ms Esther Monterrubio Villar informed me thus:

It is an honour to inform you that the selection committee for the 8th Malaspina Awards has decided to grant you this year’s Individual Award in recognition of your creative and yet insightful portrayal of Spain. Your film and memoir The Way, My Way have generated great interest in Spanish culture and history, in addition to its spiritual dimension, and has inspired many Australians to walk the Camino. At the same time, the film’s international impact has helped foster a sense of pride among Spaniards. Allow us to extend to you our most sincere congratulations.

Little did I know twelve years ago while I was toughing it out on the Meseta with a knee that was bone-on-bone that it would lead to such a great honour.

Thank you to the Spanish Education Office and Rosa Maria Prieto Gallego for nominating me, and to the Selection Committee for granting me this wonderful award.

I will be receiving this silver statuette (below), called “Heart,” designed by a very famous Spanish sculptor, Óscar Martín de Burgos.

This for me is better than any film award.
This goes to the “heart” of what the Camino is all about.

12 thoughts on “A Spanish honour for The Way, My Way ~”

  2. Simply wonderful Bill. Big hug and huge congratulations. Best wishesDeb RogowskiSent from my iPhone

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  3. Congratulations! 🎉 It’s a good claim and my Euro Camino friends who have seen all thought v very good! Well deserved after so many years of film making!

    Tom Dickson Sydney 2024

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  7. That’s fantastic news. As a four-time Camino participant, I get it. I loved your movie every time I watched it. I remember the first time in the Cinema at Rosebud, where I said at the end to the stranger next to me,

    “Doesn’t it make you want to go home and start packing your pack.. ” He replied, “Why on earth would someone want to do something like that?”

    End of conversation. Ha

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