This is a letter that Yew Tiong Kui wrote to his elder sister (Methodist School Class of 1970) in Melbourne, after the December 1999 reunion, detailing the progress of the reunion gathering. Some minor details have been amended in this version, which is being circulated to the Class of ‘71 with Tiong Kui’s permission.

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Sunday, December 26, 1999

Dear Tin,

More than half of 1971 MSS form 5 students and 13 teachers attended the reunion over the 17/12/1999 weekend. Also attending were Mr. Johnson the librarian, Mrs. Gregory and the special guest Linda, the eldest daughter (born in Sibu in 1971) of Mr. & Mrs. Gregory. Attending only the dinner were Datuk & Datin Wong Soon Koh, Mr. & Mrs. Eu How Chong (he brought his wife), Mr. & Mrs. Deng Wan Chew. Guests from U.S., U.K. and Australia arrived early stopping over in Kuching before coming to Sibu. Quite a few ex-students are Kuching residents. They also visited Mr. Chong, the ex-clerk. Miss Fries continued to Miri and was persuaded to stay longer in Sibu. She spent Christmas in Sibu and is leaving on 27/12. Mrs. Rao came for 5 days from Perth. Dr. Rao had a triple bypass 3 years ago. Madam Tiong rushed back to Sibu 3 days before Friday. She will stay till after CNY. Mrs. Linda Liew and Mr. Felix Wong (woodwork teacher) flew in on Friday from Kuching. Surprisingly, the ex-teachers maintain their looks. Wrinkles but still look youthful. Most out-of-townies stayed at Hotel Tanahmas.

Mr. Gregory is the deputy director at Victoria College of the Arts of Melbourne U. Mrs. Carlene Gregory is a physiotherapist. Linda is a practising solicitor in UK. Her husband is a British army personnel. Miss Fries had retired. She used to work at Cape Canaveral Space Centre. I think she said she is involved in Christian work now. Both Mr. and Mrs. Johnson had retired. Mr. Johnson’s beard is all white. Mrs. Rao retired from teaching. She is now 71. Her youngest son is working in IT in Perth. She is also an active Christian. Madam Tiong migrated to Calgary, Canada in 1993 with Dr. Tiang when their daughter stayed back after her study. She is actively involved in Christian work in Canada, Sarawak and China mostly in soliciting fund. Mr. Deng is the principal of a school in Sibu. Mrs. Linda Liew (used to wear mini skirt) retired last year as the principal of St Mary, Kuching. She lives 2 doors down from Yao. Mr. & Mrs. Wong Bing Sing runs a tuition school. Datuk Wong Soon Koh is Yang Berhormat, the politician.

We started with a fellowship at Dr Wong Chee Liang’s resident at Jln Tun Openg. Except for those who made it to last year trial reunion, everyone was clutching the current directory & checking the photos whenever someone walked towards him/her. Dinner was supposed to start at 8pm but no one paid any attention despite repeated calls. Various small groups formed, dissolved & reformed. Flashes kept on popping. We ended with group photos and split at 11pm. Mr. Gregory had food poisoning from the seafood dinner the night before & was not eating. Dr Wong and the ‘pot luck’ participants sponsored the food (including local delicacies like kuang-beang with meat, dieh-beang, satay, etc). Albert Lau sponsored 50 young coconuts & a carton of local ‘pomelo’ oranges from his own farm.

We met again over breakfast (sponsored by Lau Hui Bean and Ting Sii Tien) at Mandarin Hall the next morning. Some more new faces turned up. We proceeded to MSS. The principal Mr. Poh and a dozen prefects welcome us. We cut the ribbon (each ex-student took turns cutting a length) to officially open the dual covered walkways (from the school gate to the front of the 3-storey building) sponsored by us. We learned that 1969 students were visiting the school the next day. We took a tour of the new building and the school. We learned that home domestic had closed. The room is to be converted to audiovisual room. The school hall is now the library. Mrs. Johnson was busy browsing the mathematics section. Mr. Johnson found some reference books still bearing his handwriting. The main staircase from the hall had been sealed off. Staff room occupied the whole down stair.

1971 form 5 classes resumed for a brief moment. It took us a while to remember our respective seating. Still, from the old photograph, a few of us got it wrong. 5S had Mr. Gregory talking about English grammar & Australian republic/monarchy poll. Their family is for the republic. Mr. Johnson said it was the ways the questions were put as to how the republic will be run that the people had no choice but to vote for monarchy. Mrs. Johnson gave us a mathematics quiz. But it was no ordinary quiz - all were trick questions. Mrs. Rao & Mrs. Linda Liew presided over 5M, and Miss Fries & Mrs. Wong Bing Sing presided over 5A. After class, the ex-teachers were keen to visit their old living quarters and taking photos. The boys hostel is now classrooms for form 6. The toilets are now tiled. The tall durian trees are gone. We had lunch in the new conference room.

After lunch, we proceeded to the new lecture hall. Mr. Poh informed us that last dues were settled with government fund arranged through Datuk Wong. He is now aiming for a new sports hall cum students waiting area for afternoon session.

Each teacher was to give a 15-minute talk on any topic. Mrs. Rao started the ball rolling & Mr. Felix Wong took the final call. Each gave us a brief rundown of his/her endeavours. Madam Tiong spoke in Mandarin with a translation from Chee Liang. Mrs. Johnson came prepared. Her talk was all quotes & observations - saying west is not necessarily better than east. When they left Sibu and returned to UK, they both got teaching jobs at the boarding school, Sevenaoks School, where Chee Liang and Ding Sing Ning went for their Form 6. Their daughter Catherine also did a period of medical elective posting at Lau King How Hospital when she was a medical student. Mrs. Rao, Madam Tiong and Ms Fries gave us updates of their lives. Mr. Gregory talked about the close bond between Asians & Australia. All teachers were cool as cucumbers except Ms Fries & Mr. Gregory. Both started off saying they were happy to be back. And then both were choked with emotion. Mr. Gregory had to blow to clear his nose. We broke up with an audit report from the treasurer Jasnah Obeng.

We met over cocktail & dinner at Rejang Room, Hotel Tanahmas. There was an exhibit of old photos & photos from the trial reunion. But the crowd went for the printed photos from the fellowship night. Then the other teachers started arriving. Mr. Eu went straight to the table. Mr. Deng came in much later. Datuk Wong is a true blue politician shaking hands with everyone. He is the guest of honor. He also gave a speech. He presented each ex-colleague a gift - State tie for men, elaborate Iban beaded necklace for women.

Teachers were supposed to entertain us during the dinner. Mr. Gregory recited an Australian poetry. He can’t sing. Mrs. Johnston leaded us with the ‘row row row your boat’ song with words rewritten by her somehow relating to us. The teachers were coerced into a musical jam session with Martin Ho who now runs a music school. Some (not teachers) gave us Karaoke numbers. Dayang Soraya gave us an English number in her Orang Ulu costume. All teachers were presented with a gift set. Linda Gregory got an additional gift – a signed copy by ex-students with a blow-up black & white photo of her as a one-month baby in Mr. Gregory’s arms together with some students. She choked on receiving the gift & was wiping away tears at her table. We ended with another ‘massive’ group photos session.

We met again for a light breakfast (sponsored by Wong Ging Yeen) & farewell on Sunday. Some had left & some were leaving for the airport. Again we gathered at the photos counter for the photos from the day before. More photographs! Linda Gregory gave a thank you note. Her passport states her place of birth as Sibu. It makes her felt special. Then I found out that many ex-students were booking the teachers for breakfast, lunch & dinner. The teachers had to dig out their appointment books to check for yet-to-be booked timeslot.

Not all ex-students look forwards to reunion. Some do not wish to reconnect and yet others for whatever reasons. Only 2 Muslim ex-students turned up. Many couldn’t make it – too far, business commitments, no time, etc. Quite a number lost contact.

Regards

Tiong Kui