The Little Dancers

On the night of 11/11/11, The Golden Reunion, we were entertained by two very cute little dancers Mason 10 and his sister Cordelia 8. They danced two numbers, the Cha Cha Cha and a Jitterbug Jive. Mason is in Primary 4 and Cordelia is in Primary 3 at Chung Hua Primary School No.4. The siblings are the grandchildren of Mr. Peter Kuek.

Lt. Col. Sharkawi Hasbie

Finally with assistance from Francis Shim in VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Canada and the wonderful world of the Internet I have managed to get this particular photo posted !

I have been trying in vain to post Sharki's photo but my computer simply refuse to obey my commands. Frank saw my draft in the blog and suggested by e mail that I sent the photo to him and he would try it from there and VOILA ! In five minutes it appeared in our blog. Great stuff Frank, you de man !!!!!

Here is Sharki delivering his version of "Aduh Seroja" which took us down memory lane to the 60s. I overheard someone say "Aiyooooo! Not bad man. He should have become a recording artist instead of an Airforce Pilot !" Later Sharki told me his first love is flying and besides he discovered his singing talent a little bit too late.

Girls of 6th Form SJS 62-63

Let us shelve Golden Reunion 11/11/11 temporarily and skip down memory lane to the years 1961 and 1963 when St. Joe was infiltrated by girls. Those of you who attended the 6th Form will know them and those who had left school then would surely be curious to know what they missed or did not.

I have come into possession of a couple of black and whites which are now rendered priceless. Take a look :-

So guys what have you all got to say ?

Me, I'd say it's a good thing I didnt continue 6th Form. I'd have flunked anyway. How could anyone focus on studies with these gorgeous girls in the same classrooms. Dennis Chan Kheng Lee and K.J. Poh are extraordinary people.

When and where was this ......... ?

 click on foto to enlarge

Some of the boys too .....

More photographs from the reunion and the day after

Gus Bong and Haji Ashari Manis.....together again after 50 years. It's been rumoured that they were two of the naughtiest in the class. Look at these cute faces....they DO look naughty dont they ?

Gerald organised a tour of the "Ole Alma Mater" on Saturday 12th November. These were the people who turned up.

Standing from left : Alan Chan (Also rumoured to be one of the naughtiest in class); Bro. Charles (Also rumoured to be scariest of the La Salle Bros.); Gerald Lee (Rumoured to be the best Principal SJS); Kueh Hong Seng (Champion High Jumper...this is not rumour); Kueh Hong Siong ; William Chang ; Ewin Wright ;

Front Kneeling from left ; William "Dirty Goose" Ng; Peter "Sheriff Lobo" Kuek; Gus Bong and Capt. James Lee.

At the School Stadium

Gus and Mrs. Yvonne Bong at the top of Green Mountain.

Yours truely, Melanie Wright and Dirty Goose at the temple entrance on top of Green Mountain

The Three Stooges...Yours truely, Capt. James Lee and Dirty Goose.

At the other side of the river...William Ng and Amy (Our Amoi).

It has been rumoured that Ashari used to swim across this river in his birthday suit...more often than not, scaring away all the resident crocodiles.

The Band

On the night of the Golden Reunion 11/11/11 live music was provided by Jimmy Kueh, Gordon Sweeney, Patrick Sim, Awang and singers Rose Iwanaga and Gary "From the school down the road" Tay. Except for Rose and Gordon, these are non-professionals bound together by one thing in common...their love for music. Thus no thought was given to having a Band Name. Someone chose to call them "The Young ONCE" but, if given my way I'd call them "Blast from the Past". Rose of course was a recording artiste and Gordon was Music Director in Radio Sarawak.

They played tunes, popular during our schooldays, to stir up nostalgia and memories. The songs were played over the air in programs hosted by Anne Tan's Record Requests and Rock Kuek's Make Thine Music. Back then Jimmy was leader of The Tornadoes. Ashari Manis was the Lead Guitarist. In the crowd was a member of The Blue Rebels who were the other top band of that era..Erwin Wright who entertained us with a couple of songs in that polished elegant style of his.



Gary and Ewin doing "Hello Mary Lou".

Ewin supporting Gary with the harmonising second voice.

Gary bringing back memories with "Those were the days"

Jimmy and Pat tuning their guitars

Rose preparing to present her signature tune "Too Young"

Blast from the Past doing "Theme for Young Lovers"

Ewin and guest sing the Hokien version of The Platters' hit "Remember When."

More Fotos from Gus Bong

Our Amoi dancing with "Life of the party" Gus Bong as Captain James sings a love song. Regretably we had too few of these.

On the way back from "Green Mountain" we decided to go down to the river

and see Kuching from the other side. The Red Rose in the middle of all those thorns is of course our Amoi, Amy.

The thorns are (From left) : Kueh Hong Siong, Kueh Hong Seng, William Chang, Bill "Dirty Goose" Ng, Capt. James Lee, Bro. Charles, Gus Bong, Peter Quek, David d'Alwis, Szeto Chee Cheong

Saturday Night Dinner at the Heritage hosted by Capt James Lee.

Gus Bong is between Suzanne Majorie Banks (His long lost cousin) and Mary (Mrs. Dirty Goose)

William "Dirty Goose" Ng, James Lee, Gus Bong, David d'Alwis, Erwin Wright and Amy's right arm.

Amy and Erwin. They were supposed to do the Cha Cha Cha but the Emcee got " sabo" by some people who "sapu" the microphones and didnt want to let go.

This one came from Noel Tan :-

Bill Chapman and Joan Tai. Bill read us a poem and presented Bro. Charles a Rugby Book. Joan of course is Georgina's (Mrs. Noel Tan) sister.

Post Golden Reunion

I cant believe it ! After waiting two long years, it's over. The Josephians' Golden Reunion for classes 59-63 had come and gone as if with a snap of the fingers. Time flies !

This short post is to announce the coming of several more with photographs and snippets of the many joyful incidents which, forgotten now, will come to mind later.

It was a success ! The atmosphere was almost charged with static electricity generated by the amount of excited hand-shakes and bear hugs as old acquaintances were renewed, faces recognised and childhood memories rekindled. The main aim of the reunion was obviously

achieved. The party itself was also well received and particulars will be posted later.

Now, for some photos ! These were sent in by Gus Bong :-

Class of 59-63 Golden Reunion

Over 90 ex-Josephians attend reunion dinner

HELLO, OLD FRIEND: Lee (centre) greets his former schoolmates during the St Joseph’s School Grand Reunion Dinner.

KUCHING
November 11, 2011

More than 90 ex-Josephians from the classes of 1959 to 1963 attended a reunion dinner at Regal Hotel here on Friday.

As 1961 was taken as the centre point, the significant date of 11.11.11 marks the 50th year of reunion or a golden jubilee for the alumni.

“In 1961, there were at least 100 students in the school,” said Erwin Wright, spokesperson for the organising committee.

Former student and principal of St Joseph’s, Gerald Lee,  read out a message from Brother Albinus, an ex-principal and the advisor to the La Sallean Foundation here as he was away on a field trip.

In his message, he disclosed that the proposed new St Joseph Private School in Kuching would open its door to an initial enrolment of 120 pupils from January next year.

Tender for the new RM8.5 million building, situated at
Satok Road (behind Rumah Dayak) has been awarded and construction is scheduled to start next month.

Proposed by the Catholic Arch-Diocese here and the La Sallean Foundation, the project has the support of the Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud as well as parents in and around the state capital.

Three Form 1 classes and one each of Primary 1 and 2 classes will be run by the Jesuit Priests and Franciscan Sisters temporarily at the St Bernadette School at Reservoir Road.

Brother Albinus said the building committee was still short of RM3 million which it hoped would be topped up from generous public donations.

Monies collected from the reunion dinner were handed over to the Old Boys Association by Datuk Wong Kie Yee to the treasurer of the association, Aloysius Wee.

Among the activities held during the dinner was a slideshow presented by William Ng on the nostalgic moments of the students at the school.

A ballroom dancing event was also held accompanied by renditions of golden oldies played by prominent musicians to liven up the night.




  

    From the lens of Noel Tan .......

Bro. Charles addressing the reunion

Brunei idol ... David, crooning oldies for his peers

Honoured Guests

more to come ....

Will Ng and Gerald Lee....younger days in Marudi

Dark clouds are looming in the sky promising a heavy downpour. I decided that this is omen enough to abandon the home repairs project I had started on and seek shelter within. In other words, procrastination once again wins the day.

I ease into my easychair in front of my PC and start browsing facebook. Lo and behold I see a posting by a friend who used to be a pupil in the Marudi Government Secondary English School. There among the dozen or so of black and white photos, stands out two which attracts me most.

I am pleased to show them below and hope that the school will not seek legal retribution against me for posting them without permission. Anyway they were in facebook and is accessible to all.

I like the white stockings ...and sandals. Reminds me of Boys Scout days.

You will have to get in touch with William and Gerald to find out when these photos were taken and maybe even get interesting stories from them about those days.

By the way, strong winds came and blew those threatening clouds away. It is bright and shiny now but I'm way too comfortable to want to resume chores.

Bill's & Mary's Pride

Somewhere in Miri ...........

A part of their well organized garden that's utilized to grow a zillion types of fruits and veggies

.

Exceptionally healthy and sumptuous looking papayas. Wonder how much longer will they grow?

Oooooh so very looooooooog beans! Bill must have been daily-peeing on them for extra fertiliser.

The beans are so long that ONE strand should be enough for one serving for two persons!

And they even manufacture belachan!!

click on pics to enlarge.       

                                                   

                                                                                                    

The Blue Rebels and The Tornadoes Rocked Kuching

Forgive me for repeating myself but I need to say this. Nothing brings back memories better than music especially when the music was made by people whom you had associated closely with. Recently Erwin Wright wrote an excellent article on the music scene in Kuching when most of us were amazed by Rock and Roll, Elvis, Cliff Richard, Ricky Nelson, Bill Haley.....! These were the days of Drainpipe Pants for the boys and Can Can Skirts and Pony Tails for the Girls. Hula Hoop was a craze and Yardley Hair Pomade greased our hair in place. I could go on and on. Let's just see what Ewin had to say :-




Hey All ,

When a member of our alumni widely regarded as the egghead during our school days posts to-die-for musical stuff across cyberspace - and not by any coincidence mind you - two things come to light . Firstly , it rubbishes the generally held notion of what makes up the persona of an 'egghead' ...viz. academically high-achieving but musically disinclined , uncool .

Secondly , one gets the proof and a sense that music actually touches each and everyone of us .

Some of yous have diligently sought and sent out video clips of music and songs of yesteryears , asking where we were , who we were with and what we were doing when a particular song was popular . What's never asked , though , is the question of why were we listening to these songs , songs that have withstood the passage of time .

Whatever the reason , be it a break from the humdrum of academia ,
articulating feelings we couldn't , relief from general ennui , antidote for sundry depressions or simply because of that feel-good factor , they have undoubtedly left a lasting impression on us .

How can we forget Neil Sedaka's Oh Carol , Elvis Presley's Are You Lonesome Tonight , Cliff Richard's The Young Ones , Bill Haley's Rock Around The Clock , Pat Boone's Love Letters In The Sand , Ricky Nelson's Lonesome Town or even Helen Shapiro's Walking Back to Happiness . ( She had a line in another song declaring "The best years of our lives I know are those when we are young " to which I think we can all nod to in agreement ) . And how about Billy Vaughn and his orchestra , whose music I dare bet Amoi danced her first fox-trot to. These are only some of the musical manna we subsisted on in our teens some 50 years ago .

Yes , we embraced the music of those times , some perhaps with more

ardour and enthusiasm than others , worshipping at the altar of those musical deities who created them. But whilst we all found pastime , entertainment and joy listening to the music placed before us , not all were satisfied with just being listening members of the world's musical club .

As we stroll ( limp in my case ! ) through our senior years , swimming once more in the ocean of musical memories , let's first give some attention to the music scene in Kuching during those long-gone halcion days of our youth .

Perhaps surprisingly , music-making in Kuching in the mid-to-late fifties was actually pretty much alive and well . Bandsters like Abang Haider , Frank Ong , Edmund Chan ( Noel's Uncle), Abang Ahmad Urai ( who was to later become Speaker of Council Negri) , William Lee And His Hawaiian Band held court and presided over the local music scene , playing what can be described as 'vintage' music . This was at a time when 'vintage' was meeting head-on with Rock & Roll , a time when a changing-of-the-guard over who held sway in music-making became imminent .

As mentioned earlier , not all of us were contented with merely basking in the glow and glory of our favourite music stars . A few of us aspired to be those stars and set out with guitars a-blazing to explore the extent of their musical presence and their rite-of-passage , as it were .

And so it came to pass .

Bursting into the local music scene in 1960 , were Ashari's short-lived Trios Teenagers which morphed into The Tornadoes with Jimmy Kueh as the frontman , and The Blue Rebels , the earliest young bands to appear outside the kampong environment . Soon after , groups such as The Avengers with Rose Iwanaga, The Beatniks , The Mascots with Janice Wee , Brothers Three , Linang Sisters , The Vagabonds with Adenan Satem (now YB) , Les Vandals , and a few more whose names I cannot recall also took their places on the scene .

It should be safe to say that The Tornadoes were purists , in that they - as far as I can remember - did nothing but Cliff Richard , down to even dressing up like The Shadows ...horn-rimmed glasses , drain-pipe pants and all ! Little wonder therefore that they won the Cliff Richard singing competition which was held in conjunction with the filming of The Young Ones at Rex Cinema .

The Blue Rebels , meanwhile , was made up of a rag-tag ( read rojak) combo of young men , the rag-tag tag easily discernable from their racial mix -Bidayuh , Chinese, Malay and Eurasian - and through the varied genre of songs they played ...from Passion Flower , Mack The Knife , to Cotton Fields and The Twist . How rojak is that ?!

I'm sure we had fans , young men and women who followed us when ever we did our gigs at fairs, home parties or over the radio . And no , there was never any frenzied or wanton display of adoration from these fans ....least of all nubile females throwing their bras at us. Not that it mattered much , as it was in keeping with the laid-back nature that was Kuching .

I heard that the two bands were perceived as rivals representing the
Elvis and Cliff camps , though I cannot see how that could have been, seeing as The Blue Rebels hardly sang any Elvis' songs.

The Tornadoes disbanded when Ashari went for some study course in England about 1964 ( I think ) and The Blue Rebels slowly melted down around the same time when members intensified their pursuit of careers .........and skirts .

Certain members from several bands , including myself , got together sometime in late 90s to subsequently perform over a span of about two years at several weddings , a post-convention dinner , and a couple of new year countdowns at Sarawak Club , when revellers really got their money's worth . ( It is expected that this same group will entertain yous come 11/11/11 . )

So there you are folks : Make no mistake that it's not just love that makes the world go round ........IT'S ALSO THE MUSIC ! .




The fella at the mic playing the guitar and singing is none other than the writer of this article..Mr. Erwin Wright.

Jimmy and The Tornadoes.

That's young Ashari on Lead Guitar.

Waaaaaaah ! Women Drivers !