Kirrily
Welsh
1982-1984 Year 6-8
Special Memories:
At the time, when I lived in Malaysia, I was so patriotic, it was at the time
of the America's Cup and the 1984 Olympic Games, all I wanted to do was go
home to Australia (I even kissed the tarmac when we landed in Darwin on the
trip home). I thought I was missing out on so much but now (years later) I
realise that I gained a lot more than I have ever thought I lost.
RAAF School Penang was just a school at the time, but as you get older you see those years were so important. RSP wasn't just a school, it was different - a way of life, I guess because it was small and a long way from Australia we developed ways to cope and that's what made it special.
I lived at 29 Jalan Aman, Robina Park, Butterworth, so I was one of the "unlucky" (not really - it was fun) ones that had to get up at 6:00am to catch the escorted buses to school. The trip included a 20-minute ferry ride. I remember there were three buses that went from Butterworth. There was always a friendly rivalry to get on the ferry in the middle isle and have the other two buses either side of you. That way you were the first off the ferry and during the ferry trip you could talk to the other buses through the window. Unless you were on my bus, when my mum used to be the escort. She was very strict as a bus escort and was always keeping the kids in line. I remember my sister, Rachel WELSH and I would just sink in our seats when she would tell the kids to behave. When there was a school social we would have to catch the ferry back at night, which was always a bit of fun.
Our bus driver was CHEWIE (wasn't really spelt that way but that's how we pronounced it) he was always serious, I think his wife was ill and CONNIE (the conductor) who always had a huge smile on his face and singing to himself. We used to always scream at CHEWIE to drive faster - beat the other buses, but he never would, he was always very safe. Are they are still "on the buses"????
TEACHERS
Mr Howard GRANT - Science
He was the type of teacher that made science fun. When you were disruptive
he used to send you to Siberia (which was over in the corner by yourself).
I think I know exactly what Russia is really like I spent quite a bit of time
in "Siberia" for always talking - I was one of those ones that had written
on their report " talks to much in class."
Mrs
Lorraine MOTTERSHEAD - Maths
She was great she knew everything there is to know about maths and then some.
She always kept the best Geometry books from the previous year. When I was
in Year 7, she asked to keep mine. I wonder if she still has that??????
Mr
Fred WIND - Art
I remember making Malaysian kites in his class. He was great with the kids,
always cracking jokes and being funny. It made his class really enjoyable
to be in.
Mr
Morse AUF - Wood/Metalwork
I still have the copper wall hanging that I made, actually my grandmother
has it. It was of 4 Chinese good luck symbols. I remember hammering away at
that thing for what seemed like forever. We also made plastic bowls and wooden
nut bowls in the shape of leaves. Use the lathe was always fun, except for
wearing those ridiculous goggles.
Miss
Lyn LEEDER - Language
Aba Kabar, Satu, Dua, Tiga, Empat Lima etc etc etc. Remember some of it.
Never kept up with it. Should have - we have an international component at
the University where I work - knowing how to speak Malaysian/Indonesian would
have been very handy.
Mr
Greg VALENTINE - English
He was a good teacher and my class patron in year seven, then he became acting
principal at one stage - I can't remember how long for.
And all the other teachers - they were all great (when you look back on it).
I have still got my uniform - signed by everyone when I left - I doubt very much that I could put that on now (though I wish I could), but it something that I will keep forever.
Rolf Harris came to visit. He put a concert on in a hanger, it was huge everyone went. He painted a picture and donated it to the school - interesting to know where that picture is now!
I remember I learnt to smoke in Malaysia, down on the beach in Butterworth, Tracey WHITE taught me to draw back and I can remember coughing and spluttering but she said "just breathe it in, and then let it out". I also had my first taste of alcohol. You could buy sashays of gin or bourbon they were about 50c if I remember. I can remember gagging on it but you had to try. If my parents ever found out I think I would have been shot.
We would get home from school at 4:00pm and it was straight to the pool to either muck around or to have swimming training for the Dolphins Swimming Club. It was great always having a suntan all year round and not having to wear 50 layers of clothes because of the cold.
We used to ride our bikes along the beach track to the pool, as the road was a bit unsafe, there would always be local couples hiding in the bushes to try to get some special "hand holding" time by themselves.
Who remembers the navy canvas bags with the orange fluro stripes on them that we used to get made? You would get everyone to write on them and they would be the standard bag that you would take to the pool with all your gear in it. Another thing to do while we were hanging around the pool was to get about 30 roti's and a couple of bags of curry and sharing them with the "gang".
Having an amah - mum told her not to make my bed, but I used to tell her that it was OK she could make it if she wanted, which she always did. J Second hand car, second hand dog. Had the big light blue 504 Pugeot - she was a tank. "Dfer" the wonder guard dog who used to sleep all day. When you returned to Australia you sold or gave them away to the next lot of RAAFIE's to take your place.
At one time (can't remember which year it was either 1983 or 1984) when Tan Sai Gin flooded because someone shut the monsoon drains near the beach. The water was up in people's houses and there were fish swimming around in their lounge rooms. If it rained hard enough sometimes the water would lap just below the first step near our front door.
The times when you would get five people in a trishaw for 5 bucks to take you wherever you wanted. The fact that you HAD TO barter no matter how much it was for. It wasn't the point that it was only 50c - it was the principle and it was fun.
Going to Singapore on a Hercules to buy every electrical thing possible - and getting towels to wrap them up - we are still using those towels we had so many of them. I remember going on a shopping trip to Penang with the girls - that was one shopping experience I will never forget, and people like Kirrily HOWELL, Danielle MARTIN & Leanne OVERALL should know what I am talking about!!!!!!
LOCAL
BUTTERWORTH SUBURBAN CELEBRITIES
MOI - Hairdresser
Mum would go up there once a week and have her hair done and at the same time
there would be someone on each hand and foot doing her nails and it was cheap
as chips.
RICHARD - Pie Seller
Curry puffs, spring rolls and piiiiiiiiieeees! he would yell at the top of
his voice as he rode his "kampong special" bicycle around.
Mr ONG - Makan
Kart
The best fried rice man in the world - Mr Ong WHERE ARE YOU!
Ronnie
OOI - Supermarket
Who would take your order and bring it back that afternoon.
Terry ARBAR - Grocery
Who would come around to your house with all the fruit and vege's in the back
of his van for you to choose from. I remember he had the biggest smile and
was always trying to crack jokes.
My friends over my "tour of duty": Rachel MEISSNER, Kirrily HOWELL, Rosi PILGRIM, Lisa SCOTT, Chris MORRIS, Dale STEELE and a heap of others that used to hang around the Butterworth pool. The boyfriends, well I had too many of them to mention.
Going to the movies on base, getting video's - ET was the first movie that I saw on video in 1982, and it hadn't "officially" been released on video yet. You gotta love that pirate industry in Malaysia: Video's, tapes you name it. I think audio tapes only cost about 2 bucks. The music it brings back memories. When I hear a song that was around at that time I was stop and think about it. Michael JACKSON - Thriller, Duran Duran, Culture Club, Howard JONES, Nik KERSHAW, Bananarama, Shoop Shoop Diddy Wop Cumma Cumma Wang Dang, Don't Pay the Ferryman and heaps more that I can't think of at the moment.
Being lucky enough to travel over Asia and live in another country, not something many of my friends in Australia could do at that age. As you all would know, this was a place and time that you frequently think about (I know I do). I think about the experiences that I had (which I appreciate more now), the friends that I made (that I wish I had stayed in contact with), the lifestyle that I lived and the memories that I will never forget.
The last bus ride from the hotel to the charter plane was an experience. Everyone nearly had their heads out the window to take their last "whiff" - the smell. It was something that I don't think that I have ever smelt again. I don't think that I will until I return to Butterworth one day.
I returned to Wagga Wagga, NSW where I have remained (except for trips abroad here and there - but not yet back to Penang) and life is good.
Would love to hear from old school friends to reminisce about the stupid things we did.