MULTI-TALENTED teacher Margaret Wong has single-handedly transformed her home into an urban oasis with her creative brilliance.
MARGARET WONG: Family comes first at all times.
Now teaching IT and Media at SMK Batu Kawa, Kuching, this petite lady truly excels in the creativity department, especially interior design.
Margaret, a teacher since the early 1990’s, has utilised every available courtyard space of her Semi-D house at Taman Stutong Avenue to turn a massive concrete slab into a refreshing Balinees-themed garden.
“A home is not truly complete without a garden — however small — and some greenery. It doesn’t have to cost a bomb to make over your home. The important things are that the greenery and water features have a cooling and calming effect for the whole family,” she said.
Margaret has green fingers too as the shrubs and plants she planted are growing well.
“Anyone can transform their yard or compound into a mini garden and do it themselves too. All they need is time, patience and a little inspiration. The whole family can get involved to make it a family-bonding time,” she enthused.
Her garden is dominated by a timber deck walkway flanked by a pond replete with Japanese carps on one side and a patio on the other. There is also a fusion of Japanese-inspired features in the garden such as a mini waterfall that adds calmness to the overall ambience.
Margaret received her early education at St Elizabeth School in Sibu before progressing to do her Form Six at Sacred Heart School. She started her career as a temporary teacher at St Elizabeth and then at SMK Tung Hua before enrolling at Maktab Perguruan Rajang, Bintangor.
After graduating, she was posted to SMK Bawang Assan in Sibu and later to SMK Paku in Bau where she took an under-graduate course in Unimas and attained a degree in Information Technology (IT).
A natural leader, she has always been at the forefront in organising and managing events in her school.
Margaret credits her parents — Andrew Phang Kian Seng and Regina Goh Kwong Kee – with her good upbringing, saying it’s pivotal to her success in life.
CALMING EFFECT: This section of the garden has Japanese-inspired features.
“Family bonding, values and togetherness are very important. Family comes first no matter what, and we must always be filial to our parents.
“I always remind my family and friends to take very good care of their health as health is wealth and wealth is not everything.”
She is now arranging a grand party to celebrate her father’s birthday as well as her parents’ 45th wedding anniversary in Sibu as a way for her and her three siblings to show appreciation for their parents’ love and sacrifices.
“Margaret always does things whole-heartedly — she is a perfectionist, talented and intelligent. She is very understanding and always motivates and gives me the moral support to succeed,” her husband Bartholomew said, adding that she always reminds her family that prayers are important in good and bad times.
Margaret always insists on the family having breakfast and dinner together to reinforce family bonding.
“Mummy always reads books to me during bedtime. I love my mummy and daddy,” said their 5-year-old daughter Amanda.