Bong (second left) has his picture taken with old friends. From left are Francis Wong Sek San, Dennis Ling Li Kuang and Goh Han Siang.
(From left) Goh Han Siang, Chew Pok Oi and Peter Chai pose for the camera.
Some of the alumni have gone to become successful medical practitioners in their own right. From left are Dr Francis Ha, Dr Asa’at Ghani and Dr Joachim Lam Chin Chyou.
Bong (standing left) had a chat with old acquaintances before this picture was taken. Also seen are (standing from right) Dr Asa’at Ghani and Joseph Sim En Miang with their respective wives (seated from right) Dr Azizah M Amin and Laura Bara.
(From second left) Clarence and Perumal lining up to get their food.
Some of the performers for the night. — Photos by Jeffery Mostapa
Lining up at the buffet line.
Wong (seated front right) and other guests observing performances by their ex-classmates during the karaoke session.
SJS class of 1969 and Upper Six 1971, together with their spouses, pose for the album.
Some of the old photos displayed during the slideshows.
KUCHING: If was a fun and nostalgic affair for St Joseph’s School (SJS) class of 1969 and Upper Six 1971, when they held their reunion on Wednesday evening — with some not having seen each other for over 40 years.
About 50 ex-classmates gathered at the Grand Margherita Hotel here that evening, reminiscing old memories, sharing life experiences and success stories.
Among those in attendance were former politician Datuk Alfred Yap Chin Loi, Datuk Abdul Ghafur Sharif, Kenanga senior executive director Dato Bruce Kho and curator Henry Bong Lian Hin of the famed Pucuk Rebung Royal Gallery Museum.
Throughout the evening of dancing, karaoke sessions and merry-making, guests took a trip down memory lane with slideshows of their high school days. The venue was also decorated with posters and banners of old photos, keeping the St Joseph’s spirit of ‘ora et labora’ alive and well among the alumni.
“Having not seen each other for almost 50 years, this is a fantastic little gathering of people, who are in their 60s, who came from a Mission school. What we have here are directors of finance companies, public-listed companies, doctors, a paediatrician, an architect, accountants and lawyers adding to the talent pool.
“This in addition to the retirees who are basically enjoying their lives now,” Bong, who is one of the organising chairmen, told reporters during the reunion dinner.
He added that the idea of the reunion, which took about six months to organise, came about from a wish to make a ‘big one’, after numerous get-togethers amongst old friends in Kuching, Kuala Lumpur and even Perth in Australia.
“I am very proud that we finally get to do this. This is priceless. We never know when we would be able to do this again,” he continued.
Looking at the success of his ex-classmates, Bong felt proud that Sarawak, particularly St Joseph’s, was able to produce a good core of English-educated generation who continued to be productive for the development of their country.
Yap, who is former Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) organising secretary, reminisced how he always had to work harder than his peers to match their achievement in school. Coming from a rural background, the practising lawyer explained he had to struggle very hard in his studies to catch up with his classmates.
Nevertheless, Yap was happy to be at the reunion: “It is a great feeling, considering that I have not met most of them all these years. Everybody went on to have their own career; some attended universities overseas while I stayed back here. I joined the civil service and only went overseas in the 1980s after working for 10 years.”
Wong Sook Heng, the rose among the thorns at Wednesday’s reunion dinner, has nothing but good experience to share about her time at St Joseph’s. Although there were only six girls at her Upper Six class, Wong said the boys were always helpful and supportive of their female counterparts.
“I’d never been bullied. I cherish all my high school memories, they are the best time,” continued the retired finance officer.
While some looked back at the happy memories of their school days, Y Perumal recalled the time he was bullied by fellow schoolmates. He said he had to call three Indian schoolmates to confront the bully and stop the bullying for good. Perumal said he was happy to attend the dinner and meet old friends.
K M Clarence, a former math teacher of the school from 1961 to 1985, was also at the reunion. Seeing his students achieving success in life could not have made him prouder. To him, attending reunions were always nostalgic.
“It is the biggest reward for me,” he said of the success of his former students.
Age did not hinder the ex-classmates from enjoying the night away, with the programme lasting till midnight. A live band and performances by a few local talents lit up the evening.