Stephen Bignell

Our introduction to Penang was less than auspicious. Our house was located at Bukit Glugor, just opposite the Teachers College, and miles from any other Aussie families, so the only kids I'd be likely to play with were my little brother and sister, Warren and Robyn. On the first day, our Indian gardener killed a cobra in one of the drains and my parents informed us that school apparently started just after the sun got up, so we would be getting ready each day in the dark! As a young adolescent, I had just discovered the joys of PERSPIRATION, so the constant humidity was an interesting challenge. An enduring memory is of a shirt constantly stuck to my back. Welcome to Paradise!

Things got better, however. After one year, we moved to a house on the road that went out to the Monkey Gardens (can't remember its name), so we were much closer to school and to the RAAF Hostel where much of our recreational activities took place - badminton, boxing, movies, etc. The sweating continued, but most of my mates seemed to be going through the same torture, so it was bearable.

Like most others, loved the diversity and freshness of a foreign culture, still love the food (can't get a curry hot enough in Oz!), fondly remember a lot of my schoolmates (but unfortunately don't keep contact) and most of my teachers (despite the beltings most days) and have never stopped thanking my parents for exposing me to a couple of years experience which surely shaped the rest of my life.

Returned to Wollongong after our stint where I finished my schooling and then returned to one as a teacher. 20 years in the NSW system in Wollongong/Sydney/Newcastle areas and now I run a tutoring business at Tweed Heads and live on the sunny Gold Coast. Work as a referee in the National Basketball League, so those with FOX Sports might be able to see one of their ageing schoolmates belting up and down the sidelines of a basketabll court from time to time.

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