Datin Juriah Abdullah – Volunteer for 56 years and counting

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MIRI: The Malaysian Red Crescent Miri Chapter, established more than six decades ago, is celebrating its anniversary.

Judy (standing in the middle of circle) during a picnic with youth link members in 1984.

The Long House Project where used clothes were collected and donated to longhouse residents.

Judy (second right) with foreign delegates at Red Crescent Camp Kenyalang 1991.

Judy (fifth left) co-organised the ‘Longest Human Train’.

Judy (standing, third left) with nursing superintendant Maureen Dyson (standing, fourth left) and Voluntary Detachment members.

Judy took part as one of the dancers in the International Dance for Humanity where she did the Ramba Flamenco with PWPM members.

A person who has been there to witness the chapter flourish and be what it is today is Datin Juriah Abdullah (fondly known as Datin Judy Morshidi), who has been volunteering for more than 56 years now and to this day is still actively involved in the chapter’s activities.

“Back in the old days, I was a restless young lady, full of energy and always looking for something to do. Apart from school, there wasn’t much entertainment programmes here. In 1958, I chanced upon the British Red Cross which my friend invited me to join with her, and with great enthusiasm, we decided to take up the challenge,” the septuagenarian told The Borneo Post in an interview recently.

To qualify as volunteer, Judy revealed that it was tougher in the early days as it was compulsory to attend courses and sit for exams.

“We learned about First Aid and nursing skills, guided by a British officer appointed by the British Red Cross. Only by passing the exams, we could call ourselves a volunteers.”

The syllabus, according to her, emphasised on practical work, unlike today.

“There was no second chance. We had to learn by heart every First Aid step and we had to get it right the first time.

The smartly dressed young Judy as member of Voluntary Aid Detachment.

“It was, in fact, logical because if there’s any emergency, we couldn’t open the training book. The upside is that we also got to learn very fast,” she said.

Recalling the time when she first joined the Red Cross, Judy said along with other voluntary detachment members she attended a course conducted by a nursing superintendant, Maureen Dyson, on maternity and child care as well as health and hygiene, with the superintendant using her own child to teach them skills such as bathing a baby, cleaning its face and taking temperature.

“There isn’t any other way I could describe how lucky we were to get such hands-on experience. But I must say that though the lessons taught weren’t in the syllabus, the extra knowledge certainly got us far and was useful later in life,” she related.

One of those moments, she said, was during the Brunei rebellion in Limbang and Bekenu.

Judy was involved round-the-clock to treat the injured rebels and civilians at the Red Crescent Building.

“That was the time when we put our nursing skills to clean the sick – all the British way. At the time, they called it the high standard way, keeping everything according to its way, disinfecting all apparatus, bed and blankets as well as making sure that no contagious disease would spread.”

Despite holding a job as a teacher, Judy was happy to be able to manage her time between work and volunteering.

“I must say that getting involved in volunteer work and Red Crescent made my life interesting. I had the chance to learn many things, more than my colleagues did.”

Upon passing exams for proficiency in First Aid, home nursing and other related exams, Judy was invited to the United Kingdom in 1965 as a visitor and at the same time, to undergo training at the British Red Cross Training Centre.

“An officer from Geneva came to train both me and another friend to become first aid instructors. The First Aid demonstration was conducted on a dummy, which gave people a clear view of what life-saving CPR (Cardiopulmonary resuscitation) skill was.”

After returning home, Judy and her friend decided to conduct demonstration classes in the town and villages to whomever was interested.

“Perhaps we were so focused on our volunteering work that we just kept doing it – we didn’t ask any favour in return,” she said, adding that they hoped to spread volunteerism to the public through various activities.

Indeed, a positive energy could be felt throughout the interview as Judy shared her life-changing experiences.

Her eagerness to explore new ideas saw the chapter implementing many new activities and projects including ‘Dance for Humanity’ (which was later renamed to ‘International Dance for The Humanity’), 3R Centre and Thrift Shop (selling second-hand items) and collecting used clothes to be donated to longhouses.

At the ripe age of 74, Judy leads an active life of dancing and volunteering as well as participating in various charity activities.

Last year, she was one of the dancers in the ‘International Dance for Humanity’ where she did the Ramba Flamenco steps with fellow Persatuan Wanita Petroleum Miri (PWPM) members.

Judy hopes that the young people would learn to embrace the spirit of volunteerism which is diminishing due to many aspects including advancement of technology.

“Nowadays, people expect a favour for doing something. They need to learn to pursue the happiness behind giving and helping people selflessly. Offering a helping hand or even a smile can make people’s day.”