AW visiting Perth

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I received a note from Alfred Wong on his recent visit to Perth ...


Dear James,
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I had the great opportunity to meet up with two of our Form 5 Science classmates in Perth last night, Kevin Chin and Philip Tang. I have not met them since I left SJS 33 years ago and it was pleasant to catch up with them again after all these years.
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Even though I have been coming to Perth regularly to visit my two children, I didn't manage to contact Kevin and Philip until this trip (thanks BC for the email contacts).
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It's great to see that the guys are looking fit and doing well professionally. Kevin works for the Australian Goverment and has three children. Like me, two of the children are doing undergraduate studies in UWA. Kevin has been in Perth for 22 years while Philip has never left after graduating from UWA. Philip is a research engineer with a local company.
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I have uploaded a few pictures of the mini reunion to share with you. Once again, thank you Kevin and Philip for the meet-up and hope to see you guys again next trip!
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Alfred Wong - Form 5 Science 1976


Here are the photos of the mini-reunion ...

Three buddies

With the wives (Bettie Wong, Christina Tang and Pearl Chin)

Another ladies' shot

Good to see another reconnection, many years in the making.

Best wishes to all of you.
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Memories: A Singapore Trip in 1976

Here's an old photograph of a group of buddies on holiday in Singapore. The year was 1976, and most of the guys in the picture were seventeen years old.  Perhaps JL, who sent me this picture (thanks John!), can share more about the dates, location and what the guys did in the Lion City.

I'll let you identify the six groovy* guys yourself. Alas not everyone in the picture is still with us. Which makes it an even fonder memory.

(*Whenever I use the word "groovy", my daughter usually cringes. However in this case, I do think it's the appropriate word to use, as we were (and ... ahem ... still are) groovy, hip and cool ......    :-)

What were YOU doing on 1 Oct 1976?

On 1st October 1976, we were all in Form 5. The Senior Cambridge exams were looming in a few weeks time for most of us. The St Joe library was likely packed most of the day. Different people react differently to exam pressure. Some of us pretended to be cool and nonchalant about the whole thing. Others were walking around like zombies, arms laden with books and lips mouthing key mathematical formulae or English literature passages.

Let's take a look at what else was happening around that time. This is the front page of the New Straits Times on 1st October 1976.

with a zoom-in on the date ...

I'll get to the story of how we got our hands on such an old publication in an upcoming posting. But for now, have a read of some snippets of the stories featured that day.

Like this news item from Sarawak ...

reminding us that Sarawak still faced sporadic communist activities in 1976, despite the fact that then Chief Minister Abdul Rahman Yakub had signed a Peace Accord (called PARAKU) with communist leader Bong Kee Chok in 1973, which enabled many of the communist terrorists living in the jungle to be reintegrated into society.

In the region, President Ferdinand Marcos was still very much in charge of the Republic of the Philippines, a country perceived to be one of the most progressive in South-East Asia.

On the sports section, we see read about Ken Norton protesting about his recent defeat by Mohammad Ali, and demanding a rematch.

All stuff of history. And guys and girls, be proud that we lived through all of it ...

Of course some of us were oblivious to all the above, because the only part of the newspaper we focused on were the cartoons ...

Bright Boys & Gals of 1976

Here's another blast from the past.

Check out this very significant clipping from The Vanguard newspaper, featuring the MCE exam top scorers for 1976.
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Well done to our brightest buddies - for their sterling results and, in some cases, their snazzy hairstyles too !

Form 5 Sc (1976) class photo ... located !!!

I've been hunting for this photo for quite a while. Finally it has been located in the storage box of our friend PC (thanks Pip!) in KL ... So here's a much clearer picture of those dashing young lads from the Form 5 Science class of 1976.

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The close-up shots are taken with a super-duper mind-reading camera that reveals the deepest inner thoughts of some of the lads at the moment the shot was taken ...

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... and now a SPECIAL BONUS - the other side of the photo, adorned with 33 year old signatures. Can you find your own ?xx

Enjoy the wonderful memories ...

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Zooming in on St Teresa's School

This entry focuses on that school across the road, the one that has held the fascination of many a St Joe boy then and now.

First, we have the view from across the road ...

Then, using St Joe's ultra-powerful telescope, we zoom in further ...

And we zoom in further still ....

And even further ...

and finally bringing the image into clear focus, we see ...

and

Wow, I knew those Physics lessons on lenses & magnification would come in useful some day ;-)

I'll leave you to identify the beauties ...

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Another Form 5Sc class of 1976

Here's another photographic gem ... St Teresa's School, Form 5Sc class of 1976.

Take a close look. Who can recognise? Do you know where the ladies are now? Have you been in touch with anyone?

Form 5Sc, St Teresa's School, 1976

At the request of some of you - obviously those with failing eyesight - I've given this photo the same treatment of expanding into left, middle & right sections. This will hopefully allow you to see the faces better, and hopefully jog those fading memories.

Left section

Middle section

Right section

If you'd like a clearer view of the entire photo, you'll need to download the file onto your PC, then view it in a larger format.

Enjoy ...
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Other Memorable Movies of 1975 or 1976

For many of us, movies were a significant part of our lives back then. English movies, Chinese movies, even some Indian movies (and this was before the era of Bollywood!).

Many of us snuck off to Miramar or Cathay or Swee Hua or Capitol cinema for movie shows when we were supposed to be spending time at the library. Some may have had their first dates at the cinema.

What were some of the movies you associate with your Form 4 or Form 5 years? Share your top choices and any other movie-related experiences.

Who's Doing What & Where?

A few of our friends have been asking who's where and doing what these days ... I've listed below the few that I do know of ...

George Lo (lawyer, Kuching)
James Kuo (heart surgeon, UK)
Bartholomew Sinos (aviation industry exec, Cambodia)
Chong Chi Nai (ADB senior exec, Philippines)
John Lee (local govt, UK)
Philip Chin (business, KL)
Ho Boon Chiang (business, KL)
Curtis Teo (Los Angeles, USA)
James Yong (consultant & writer, Singapore)

Obviously more information needed. Others please share what you've been up to ...

In the News: Chinese get ready for the Year of the Ox

Here's a piece by Katie Campling in the "Huddersfield Daily Examiner" newspaper on Jan 14, 2009, which features our old friend John Lee, now living in the UK ...

An extravaganza of traditional celebrations will see in the Chinese New Year later this month.

Huddersfield Chinese Community Centre has organised a day of entertainment to celebrate the dawn of the Year of the Ox.

The event will be on Saturday January 24 at the National Children’s Centre at New North Parade – although Chinese New Year does not officially start until January 26.

The day of fun will start with a traditional Chinese lion dance at 11.30am, followed by demonstrations of martial art tai chi and a children’s music and dance performance.

A more energetic martial arts display of Taekwondo will take place after lunch, followed by a Chinese music performance and magic show.

There will also be a variety of stalls offering arts and crafts, food, jewellery, herbs and medicines and calligraphy.

It costs £1 for adults to visit the event and entry is free for under 12s.

Last year’s event at the start of the Year of the Rat attracted 600 people and the Association is hoping for a big attendance this year.

The Chinese New Year event is one of the highlight of the calendar for the Chinese Community Association, which is based at Cambridge Road.

John Lee, the new chairman of the Association’s board of trustees, said events like this helped attract people of all cultures to the association.

He said: “There will be something for everyone. People don’t have to be Chinese. The group is for anyone interested in the culture and history or in learning language such as Mandarin.

“It’s a chance to meet people and gain skills or join in activities. For instance, older people like to come and meet to play mah jong.”

Mr Lee is keen to promote the different activities the Association offers.

They include translation services, Mandarin language classes, tai chi classes, English classes and Chinese catering services for people in their homes.

Mr Lee said: “There are quite a number of Chinese origin people who don’t know we exist or what we offer.

“Chinese people tend to be quite spread around, we don’t all live the same community. So it’s good to have the group as a focal point.

“We do offer a wide range of things for all kinds of people.”

Way to go, John !

The original website can be found at http://www.examiner.co.uk/news/local-west-yorkshire-news/2009/01/14/chinese-get-ready-for-the-year-of-the-ox-86081-22685416/

Music of 1976

Shakespeare once wrote, "If music be the food of life, play on". For many of us, teenagers in 1976, music was an important part of our lives - consciously and unconsciously. What song or piece of music, when you hear it today, still reminds you of the year 1976 ?

Our Teachers of 1976

Here are the teachers who moulded our academic, sports & extra-curricular lives in those formative Form 4 & 5 years.

We'd like to invite YOU (yes, YOU who is reading this right now!) to add some comments on what you remembered about some of them ...

Bro Adrian - English

Bro Mark - Scripture, English

Mrs Lau - English

Mr Nicholas Jee - Literature

Mr William Chan - Mathematics

Mr Clarence - Additional Mathematics

Mrs Bugo - General Science

Mr Joseph - Physics

Mr Sebastian - Chemistry

Mr Matthai - Biology

Mrs A. Tan - Geography

Mrs Minos - History

Mr Augustine Ong - Commerce

Mr Matthias Lee - Scripture

Mr Simon Lo - Woodwork

Mr Lee Hock Kia - Arts & Crafts

Cikgu Bujang Mol - Bahasa Malaysia


I will be looking for photographs to accompany these names. If you have some, do send them to me at jslyong@hotmail.com .

A 2006 Reunion in Kuching

In December 2006, members of the three classes of Form 5 (1976) organized a 30 year get-together at the Meisan restaurant, Holiday Inn Kuching.

By courtesy of our friend Lawrence Chin, here are some photos from the occasion. See how many people you can recognise !

Who were in Form 5 Science ?

These were the members of the Form 5 Science class in 1976.

Please help update YOUR latest status (ie. what you're currently doing, where you're based, contact details, etc.) emailing your friendly neighbourhood Website Jaga jslyong@hotmail.com. And also check this entry regularly as it will be updated from time to time.


GRAND REUNION
Colour of name: Green=registered; Red=not attending; Blue=yet to be registered


Wilson Chao (wchao151@gmail.com) is a businessman in Kuching. His company is called kijosuwi and deals in communication & security systems.

Cheng Liang Fang (Liang_Fang_Chen@lta.gov.sg) is an engineer based in Singapore. He is a senior executive in the Land Transport Authority (LTA), and specialises in building underground train networks. An avid photographer and fisherman too.

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Bob Chew Pok Vun (lkcbob@tm.net.my) is based in Kuching. He is involved in many causes, one of which is the building of houses of worship in rural areas of Sarawak. He is also assistant to the Honorary Consul at the Australian Consulate , Kuching.
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Chieh Lipp Kee (LKC@dslinc.com) is a senior executive in an F&B equipment company. He is based in Vancouver, Canada. He likes golf, Penfold Reds and Korean culture.
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Chiew Chin Kee

Kevin Chin (takkuasa@iinet.net.au) has been located in Perth, Australia. He is a professional accountant and works as an investigator with the Australian Securities & Investments Commission.
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Philip Chin (pipchin23@hotmail.com) is a businessman, based in KL.
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Lawrence Chin (chin59@gmail.com) is a senior executive with the FSBM Group, one of Malaysia's leading IT service and systems provider. He is based in KL.
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Dr Chong Chi Nai (cnchong8888@hotmail.com) is a Senior Procurement Specialist with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), based in Manila, Philippines.




Harry Goh Eng Kiat (harryekgoh@gmail.com) is a senior executive with GE, specialising in healthcare systems, and based in KL.

Philip Hii (phykhii@gmail.com) lives on the outskirts of Dublin, Ireland.

Ho Boon Chiang (hoboonchiang@yahoo.com) is a businessman, based in either KL, Malaysia or Cambridge, UK.

Alan Jerah is in Kuching.


Andrew Kang (deceased)

Kho Guan Huat

Jimmy Kho Khoon Haw (jkhokh@yahoo.com) is based in Shanghai, China running various food & beverage businesses.




Kho Kian Hock is a director at AHE Ceilings Sdn Bhd, a firm that specialises in plaster ceilings and other construction materials. He is based in Kuching.

Kuan Chee Kok (ChKuan11@yahoo.com) is a sales director with Hewlett-Packard in KL. He likes scuba diving.

Christopher Kuek is somewhere in Australia (I'm told).xxxxx


James Kuo Hang Ung (jameskuo@btinternet.com) is a consultant heart surgeon. He lives in Plymouth, UK.




Lau Suan Chye
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Law Kok Beng is somewhere in Australia (so I'm told).

Francis Lee  (FrancisLee@sarawakenergy.com.my) works at SESCO/SEB in Kuching.

Richard Lee is a dentist, and lives in Western Australia.

Leong Kuek Fook is a businessman based in KL. His business deals with chemical products.
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Liew Kueh Man (deceased)

Liew Jiew Neang (liewnco@streamyx.com) is an accountant based in Kuching. Contact: +602082485858.

Lim Ngee Hong, Richard is an engineer and has been with Hewlett-Packard Singapore for more than two decades.




George Lo Kuin Fah (george@glplex.com) is a lawyer, with his own law firm in Kuching.

Cyril Moa is based in KL.


Nicholas Ng Wui Khiang is now Father Nicholas, a Catholic priest at St Joseph's Parish in Kuching.

Peter Ngiam Tie Fen (pngiam@tm.net.my) is in Kuching.

James Ngui Min Boon

Ong Poi Jin is in construction & development, and based in Kuching.

Julai Sharif is in Miri, Sarawak.

Christopher Sim Kay Guan (kayguan@hotmail.com) is with Shell at Port Dickson.

Dr Sim Peng Siew is in Shanghai (so I'm told).

Francis Tan

Edmond Tan Choe Jueh (edmondtan@live.com) is a vet, with a pet clinic in Singapore.

Eric Tan Kung Miang (eric.km.tan@hotmail.co.uk) is an accountant, living in Nottingham, UK.

Philip Tang is in Australia.

Tham Peng Yeow

Thong Ee Yew, Raymond (reythong@yahoo.com)

Ting Thong Kong, Herbert lives in Calgary, Canada.

Paul Tong is working in the banking industry in Singapore.

Wong Kah Kung, Alfred is in Kuching.

Michael Yeo is in Ottawa, Canada.

James Yong Shoon Loi (jslyong@hotmail.com) is a public sector consultant & writer. He is a director at Cisco Systems during the day, tries to write during weekends, and moonlights as a Website Jaga.
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Roney Zaidell (roney_zaidell@petronas.com.my) is a senior executive in Petronas, based in KL.
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