Jenny
Fuller
1971-1973
Classes 2, 3,
1975-1977 Years 6G, 7, 8
Email:jtiernan64@gmail.com
Jenny
Fuller (now Tiernan)
Living in Darwin
Northern Territory
RAAF School Penang
Feb 71 - Feb 73 (Years 2 -4 Annexe and Main School)
May 75 - Nov 77 (Years
6 - 8 Primary Secondary - Main School)
When we first arrived in Penang we were met at our house, (not sure of the street
name) off Jalan Gajah by family friends, the O'Leary's. My memories back then
include, the red tiled floor, our pet monkey and pet rabbits, the visiting snake
charmers, catching butterflies, the ice cream man, Penang Swimming Club and its
Presentation nights (when I got my first trophy), and watching films over the
swimming pool, Joeys Sports Club, ferries, Naffi, RG Stores, Mary the Egg lady,
the doughnut man, the old Hillman that got us right around the island and the
tropical stormy nights and of course our dear Amahs.
I remember attending the Annexe for a short while and then moving to the Main school, we also moved houses and lived at 75 Vale of Tempe Rd. Our house backed onto the Attaps near the Assembly area, infact we were the fourth house up the road, the dentist being the first. The excursions, rubber plantations, batik factories, snake temples, Penang Hill and Sunday School.
I recall the rambutans, (and living in Darwin, they're still hot on the shopping list) the ice balls, durians and satays, covering my nose with a perfume scented hankie when going into Georgetown, trishaws, huge monny drains, the bus conductors with the really long fingernails, and the only thing outside of the Eden Restaurant that I ate was fried rice. Then there were the vaccinations, the Malaria tablets and the tailored "going home" family outfits. And when we arrived back in Australia we pigged out on "Äussie Lollies".
Back in Aust, a few years later - I'll never forget my Dad coming home from work and telling us all we had been posted back to Penang, now a bit older and more prepared, we couldn't wait. In fact, the next 2 years have to be the best in my life. I swam competitively for the Penang Swimming Club, then later the Chinese Swimming Club, the RAAF School and the state of Penang, with only FINA preventing me representing Malaysia. My swimming took me to Ipoh, KL, and Malacca and today I still keep in contact with some swimming friends.
Our 2nd trip, and we lived at No3, Rd 3 Tanjong Tokong, walking distance to Fettes Park, and the Hostie. I recall walking down to the fish shop and buying fresh worms for our fishtank, this time our pets included tropical fish, terrapin turtles and mice, lots of them. And more memories, the Egg Lady coming to introducing herself again, the hysteria when she remembered us. In fact returning with my husband and first daughter in 1990 and visiting Mr Phoon at Batu Ferringi, he remembered my face and when I jogged his memory with my family name he recited our home address.
The daily visits of the cows and goats, firework night, pasar malams, the swimming clubs, joeys, and later my time with the local kids from the Chinese Swimming Club. They would come around on weekends, pick me up and take me to the movies, or out for breakfast, asian style, (I've moved on from Fried Rice), and to their places in local kampongs.
One of my closest friends today is Andree Hayes, a neighbour in Malaysia. I would love to hear from anyone in the 75-77 era. Just check those teachers' photos, that's sure to bring back memories. Remember learning the science elements playing bingo to win Minties in Science. My parents have our Australs and I'm keen to purchase copies for myself, particularly 1977 as this is one the family didn't get. Just looking at the photos on this site brings back those magical moments.
And when the time to return to Australia came, you spend the last day in an empty house, saying all your goodbyes, listening to the Radio Requests, (one of mine coming from the swimmers of the Chinese swimming club - Leaving on a Jet Plane, still brings a tear to my eye.)
I have returned to Penang in 1990, 92, 94 , KL in 2001. We always stay opposite Hillside so we can pig out at the food hall. I returned to both the Penang and Chinese Swimming Club, my Coach still involved and I was treated like Royalty. In KL in 2001 I was watching the water polo at the SEA Games, and in the crowd was the father of one of my swimming mates. Mr Yeap recognised me instantly.
As it's been said before, living and going to RAAF School Penang, was certainly the best time of my life.
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