Flautist Grafenauer Is Slovenian Woman of the Year
Irena Grafenauer, the Slovenian flautist of world renown, has been selected woman of the year by readers of one of the most popular Slovenian women's magazines, Jana.
Grafenauer revealed she was suffering from incurable leukaemia over a year ago when she was decorated with a state order by the president of Slovenia.
At what should be a moment of triumph for her, the musician was brave enough to admit she was in a terrible distress, the explanation of Jana's honour said.
"I could only survive with the help of a donor of compatible bone marrow," Grafenauer said at the time in an attempt to persuade as many Slovenians as possible to put their name on the list of donors.
The appeal moved the Slovenian general public, and many people actually got registered as potential donors. The bravery and the appeal apparently won Grafenauer the women of 2004 title.
The ceremony at which the musician was bestowed the honour was held on Thursday afternoon at the Ljubljana Opera and Ballet House.
Grafenauer has joined 16 Slovenians who won the title since 1988, when the first ever Slovenian of the year was selected by the Jana readership. This was Mojca Drcar Murko, the daily Delo's commentator at the time and a Slovenian MEP at the moment.
Last year, the honour was bestowed on Benka Pulko, the first woman to cross all seven continents on a motorcycle, and a holder of three Guinness Book records.
This year's competition for the title was tough though: Jana readers had 13 candidates to choose from, ranging from an actor, musicians, media people, an athlete, a prosecutor, a legal expert, etc.
The ceremony was attended by a number of people from culture and showbusiness as well as politicians, including the former President Milan Kucan.
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