Alison
Dean
1973-1975 Grades 4G, 5M, 6M
Email: Alijay@aol.com
My memories of RSP and our time in Penang are some of my
most treasured childhood memories. I think back to those years and vivid pictures,
tastes and smells invade my senses. We were so lucky to have not only the experience
of living in such a beautiful country but also to be part of the wonderful R.A.A.F.community.
I remember the family pets we had, Scruffy the dog, whom we inherited
with the house. To say he was a 'Heinz 57' would have been an understatement.
Our mottley moggie, Tiki, who was unfortunate enough to be born into a local family
who believed that when cats died they would be re-incarnated as humans with tails!
To avoid this happening her tail was docked at birth! This caused no great health
problem but did affect her balance and was a great source of entertainment when
she was trying to balance on a fence or the edge of the roof!. She used up way
more than her 9 lives!!! We were also lucky enough to be asked to babysit a pet
monkey while one of our neighbours was on an extended overseas holiday. Mongo
was so cute, but boy was he a 'vicious little monkey' when he was in a bad mood
or took a dislike to somebody. Many of our visitor got a nasty shock when they
tried to make friends with him.
I remember walking along the Esplanade
(?) on balmy evenings and buying dinner from the 'makan carts'. Our family favourite
was the Indian'mertabah'(like curry souvlaki). We used to call them 'motorbikes',
and I don't think I will ever taste anything as good as those again.
We were very fortunate to have the most wonderful amah and cook. Eng and Margaret
not only looked after the house but they were very much a part of our family.
Mum insisted that we were to clean our own bedrooms, but without fail, Eng would
shoo us away and insist that she would do it herself as she would only have to
re-do it when we had finished! Eng had some very interesting beliefs, one being
she would get pregnant if she ate tomatoes! Margaret tried to be so strict and
not tolerate any of our girly nonsence, but was always there after school with
our favourite snacks and her magnificant home made lime juice!
My older
sisters, Karen and Nichola, and I were very lucky to go to Thailand with the Girl
Guides and although I recall being very homesick, it was an amazing experience.
We stayed with the American Guides and spent about 7 days exploring Bangkok.
Considering we were aged approx 11-15 we were incredibly lucky to have had
the opportunity to go. I don't think today, many parents would let their daughters
travel so far away at such a young age.
When I think of the Penang Swimming
Club, appart from remembering that I always seemed to come in 3rd or 4th in all
the races (remember Lyn Howitt ALWAYS won and my dear sister Karen used
to get 2nd), I remember sitting on the upper spectator seating and watching movies
across the pool. Wow what a wonderful time we had, a swim before dinner in the
Club, then a movie, followed by long lazy strolls along the beach below. We really
were in paradise.
My memories of school seem to be a little less vivid.
I can remember going on a Hash run for PE and comming face to face with a very
large snake, playing kingping with a cane ball, participating in the school production
of 'Wizard of Oz'and the long hot walk up Hillside to Jalan Ahmad Bin Kasa every
afternoon. We lived directly below Scout Rock and spent many days scrambling up
the hill to sit on the top and take in the view (reading the grafiti was also
fun!).
Like most kids living on the island, we spent ALL of our free
time at the 'hostie', playing every form of sport ever invented. I am sure that
in those two years, I played basketball, netball, tennis, tabletennis, badminton
& softball and possibly others. I don't know where we found the time to fit
in all these activities as well as school and swimming.
Upon returning
to Australia in 1975 we were stationed in Melbourne for 4 years then posted to
Canberra. In 1982 just before my 18 birthday I spent 3 months in Singapore with
my Uncle then travelled to the UK for an extended holiday. I ended up living there,
marrying a Scotsman and having my first child, before we all returned to Australia
in 1986. My second child was born in '87 and I was divorced in '89. I remarried
in '95 and have since had another child. We are all very happy and living in Melbourne
(except the ex-husband who returned to Scotland!)
I would love to hear
from anyone who may remember us 'The Dean Girls' to possibly exchange more memories.
I would especially like to find Bernadette Stewart, Ann Gordon and Stefan Grattan.
Thanks to this fantastic web site I have already had the opportunity to be
re-united with an old RSP friend (Penny Murray) who has unlocked memories for
me, long forgotten, by just mentioning a name, place or event.
I hope
that my memories could possibly do the same for others.