ST. GEORGE’S INSTITUTION, TAIPING - A LIVING LEGACY (PART 2)

Jean Baptiste de La Salle (St. John Baptist), founder of 'The Brothers of The Christian Schools'

Memories of the 1960s and 1970

School days in the 1960s at SGI were formative years for many of us - years that shaped aspects of our character, friendships, values, and future paths in different ways. They had a rhythm that moulded the student’s mind and spirit: the morning bell that set the pace for the day, the echo of footsteps along concrete corridors, the chatter before assembly, the shared laughter in classrooms and out on the fields, where games, practices, and spirited play filled our days with a special kind of joy. Then there was the quiet concentration on lessons that demanded focus, and a steady emphasis on virtue and goodness woven into daily school life.

It was through these simple, everyday moments that our core values took root, discipline was instilled, friendships were deepened, camaraderie was fostered, and a sense of identity both as an individual and as a Georgian began to take shape.

A look back at the everyday moments, friendships, and teachers that quietly shaped our lives during a defining decade at SGI

Thinking of the 1960s school days brings a torrent of images, memories and emotions to the fore. Though after 55 years, many details have naturally faded from the mind, a handful of moments have stayed vivid - moments retold over the years to friends, children, and grandchildren. Among the 40 to 45 teachers who served at SGI during my time, a few stand out for the impressions they left on me.

I still remember Mr. Kuah Say Kong, my Form 5 class teacher, for a quiet act of kindness. When he discovered that I was struggling to pay my MCE examination fees, he offered to cover the cost first - no fuss, no questions. I accepted, repaid him a few months later, and moved on. Fifty-five years later, at the OGA dinner in 2023, I approached him to thank him personally and took a selfie with him. He had no memory of the incident, but for me, it was unforgettable.

Mr. Ooi Check Huat, a much feared, but legendary teacher no one forgets

Another cherished memory involves Mr. Simon Choong, the Senior Assistant at SGI Primary School. In 1965, after winning a gold medal in high jump at the North Perak Primary School Sports Meet, I, along with a classmate who won silver in the 100 metres, qualified for the Perak state meet in Ipoh. Mr. Choong personally drove us in his Morris Minor, accompanied us throughout, and treated us to Char Kuey Teow and Ice Kacang at the Casual Market before sending us home. It was a simple act, but to two young boys, it meant the world.

Not all memories were serious. One afternoon in the library, my friend Jossie Thomas and I decided to prank Bro. Christopher. I pretended to faint, while Jossie ran to him for help. As he tried to lift me off the floor, my ticklish armpit betrayed me, and I burst out laughing. Though visibly annoyed, Bro. Christopher let us off with just a stern look - a small victory we never forgot. Then there were the light-hearted moments with schoolmates outside the classroom.

Chinese New Year celebrations in Taiping were always special. I recall a visit to a classmate’s home in 1969 with a few other schoolmates, when his father surprised us by offering beer instead of the usual soft drinks. We were tongue-tied, unsure how to respond, until I blurted out a line that became something of a school legend: “If you insist and persist, we can’t resist.” Laughter erupted, and we each ended up sipping half a glass of beer - a simple, mischievous moment that has lingered in memory ever since.

Original SGI building constructed in 1915

In Retrospect

In retrospect, these memories are only one thread among many. Each of us experienced SGI in our own way - shaped by different teachers, friendships, and personal journeys. What unites us now is not identical experiences, but the shared realisation that those years left a lasting mark, in its own way on each of us.

... TO BE CONTINUED ...