Dec 31 deadline

The closing date for the cyclethon is on Wed, Dec 31. Please email Esther Hor at silk_rehtse@yahoo.com for the registration form.

Mamma Mia, if Meryl Streep can still dance and prance the way she did at age 59, what about the rest of us? So, dancing queens, gather your gang and have a ladies day out. The last time, Suet Fun, Chai Lan, Li Yin and I left KL just before 7am and arrived just after 9am. We started the drive back at 8pm and arrived just after 11pm. Hats off to Li Yin -- she drove single-handedly. Very cool and steady driver!

Let's help to make the cyclethon merry and meaningful!

Blessed Christmas, one and all!

We are on the eve of another Christmas, which also means we are on the brink of another new year. As we bring 2008 to a close, my heartfelt thanks to all. What a scrumdiddlyumptious group of alumnae and friends!

Take just yesterday, for instance. Chuah Soh Nee, Class of '79 and a former classmate of my sis, emailed me that her uncle, Mr Chan Kwai Fong, has offered to help the fundraising effort. She emailed me his hp contact, which I passed on to Puan Noriza, who called Mr Chan immediately. Through alumna spirit and networking, I understand that the school is now able to get the tees and caps for the cyclethon at a better price. YAY!

There's also Tyng Yee in UK, who has been a constant campaign stalwart. When she heard of the cyclethon, she thought of a lovely sponsorship programme. In her words:

"I'm sure there are some students within the school who would like to take part, but could not afford it. So, my idea is to sponsor some of them to cycle. This way, I can donate money and they can contribute it to the school. I find this way quite meaningful."

Within a week, Tyng Yee has raised enough to sponsor 6 girls at RM60 each -- from aunts, cousins, uncles and friends both in Malaysia and the UK. She's still on-the-job...congrats and thank you, Tyng Yee (here she is, with her dad and hubby).

And, I am still amazed at the speed which alumnae responded to the SOS for the contacts of Junaidah Aman and Azura Zainal Ratin, after Puan Sharifah had asked for them. Through Facebook, we got the numbers within a couple of hours for Junaidah and within a couple of days for Azura. Puan Sharifah has spoken to them...thanks to Rohana Puteh (pix), who left TMGS in 1971 after Form 3, and Priya, Class of '95.

Yes, Hannee Tan, on her own initiative, created our very own alumnae Facebook group called "SMK Treacher Methodist Girls School Taiping." It really helps to keep all of us girls in touch, especially useful for quick alerts. The link is provided (see top right, below the school badge) for your sign-up convenience. :-)

Suet Fun, Li Yin, Chai Lan, Lean See, Odi, Jarinah, Hasnita, Pauline, Nan See, Su See, Mrs Lim, Yoga (of TMGS Old Girls Association), Mrs Polly Tan (of the Board of Governors), Mrs Goh Lye Ngoot (alumna, former teacher and present BOG) and all other alumnae who have helped --- my deepest, deepest thanks. Of course, the team at the school has been great -- Puan Noriza and her merry women, Mrs Ng, Lay Hoon, Poh Lay, Azizan and Sharifah. Mustn't forget Esther Hor, who will be in Form 4 next year --- with Mrs Ng's help, she did the research piece on the physical development of the school, which will be used in the website (that's another story).

Oh, we have some knights in shining armour too - namely Ong Ah Sun of PIBG St George who started the email appeal which started all this; Paul Loh who gave generously of his engineering expertise to survey the school; and Mr Chan Kwai Fong who is helping the school save on costs for the coming 120th year celebrations (less costs, more funds).

So, 2008 has been historic and meaningful, in terms of renewed alumnae movement for the school. It will forever mark a time when alumnae young and old, far and near rallied to the school's distress situation, and helped in whichever way they could (expressions of support are much appreciated too).

I certainly look forward to 2009 as we walk more on this journey together to restore our dear old school to how she deserves to be.

Happy New Year, everyone.....see ya next year!

Bravo, Class of '70

Sunday, Nov 30 turned up a delight for our alma mater, when Puan Noriza and some staff members received a group of eight alumnae* from Class of '70.

Here they are, from left to right: Teoh Hooi Leng, Mah Yick Fern, Ong Guat Kwee, Chia Swee Hua, Cheong Yeok Lin, Pn Noriza, Dr Teh Lei Choo, Pn Sharifah (teacher), Ms Low (teacher), Foo Quai Yeow and Cheah Leong Teen.

Except for Dr Teh who is based in Penang and Yick Fern who lives in Taiping, the rest of the girls had come all the way from KL or Singapore.

The group spent many hours revisiting familiar nooks and corners, all the while taking in for themselves the condition of the old walls, ceilings, roofs and furniture. They also listened to Pn Noriza explaining work that had been done and plans.

After some discussion among themselves, they announced their decision to Pn Noriza - that they would contribute RM3,000 toward the cost of tee-shirts for the cyclethon being organized by the PIBG. To Pn Sharifah, who is in the cyclethon committee, that is especially welcome news because tees are expected to take up half of the cost of the event.

Dr Teh has also agreed to officiate the flag-off of the cyclists on Jan 17.

And, she and her gang didn't stop there. They asked Pn Noriza to give them details of restoration projects, and pledged to help get contributions for the school.

What a lovely Sunday! Hurrah for the girls!

(Please see post below for details on the cyclethon. Closing date for registration - Dec 31.)

Puan Noriza with Dr Teh,
who is the State Health Director of Penang

*HO HO HO! Something made me curious and I opened my big, hefty Oxford...and found that "alumni" is mainly plural for male former students while "alumnae" is plural for female ones and the singular is "alumna" while the masculine singular is "alumnus." Interesting. Life being the way it is, what happens if the former students are of mixed gender?
Then, we call them, "alumni," even if there is only ONE male.
Aaahh...life.. :-)

Hmm, we do have male former students from kindy -- one of whom is Tun Ling Liong Sik. Anybody contacted him? Does he know of this appeal?

I Want To Ride My Bicycle!

How long has it been since you cycled in the cool, green and refreshing environs of our world-famous Taiping Lake Gardens, and bask in the sheer poetry and beauty of the raintrees arching to the water?

If you are like me, that would be school days. Not that I've never returned to the Lake Gardens. Just never cycled there since my Form 6 days and felt the wind blowing in my face and hair. Those were the days.

Miss those days? Wish to take this trip back memory lane?

The school has come up with the absolutely brilliant idea of a CYCLETHON to kick off next year's 12oth anniversary celebrations. It's set for January 17, Saturday, in the morning. The idea is to flag off from the school, make a round of the Lake Gardens and come back to the school.

What's so brilliant about a cyclethon, you may ask?

In my humblest opinion, it is brilliant because cycling is one thread of the common fabric that binds us alumni together. We all cycled! Orang Taiping semuanya tau tunggang basikal! I know, that's generalizing things a bit, but you get the picture. My sisters and I were terrors on two wheels. Once a classmate on her schoolbus commented, "You all cycle like ribut (storm)."

So, Cyclethon Sempena Pelancaran Sambutan 120 Tahun SMK (P) Treacher Methodist Taiping 2009 (phew, what a mouthful) is simply wonderful, I say. And hope all of you agree.

It's a wonderful way for old friends to meet up again -- with all the chatting and bantering, we'll probably want to go on cycling forever, and Puan Noriza will have to blow her whistle again and again to call us back to finishing line, ha ha ha.

It's a wonderful way for alumni to come together to help our dear old school. Did I forget to say this? It's not just fun and nostalgia, ladies -- each of us will get sponsors to back our ride around the Lake Gardens. All the funds raised will go towards the restoration of the school. All the school is asking is minimum RM30 sponsorship per biker. (Note: There is no registration fee.)

It's a wonderful way for all of us to let the whole of Taiping know that we - the alumni of this very first English girls school in Malaysia - remember our roots and our alma mater, and are serious about helping her get back to her old glory. Banners will be placed all over to harken the start of the 120th jubilee. Of course, the cyclethon is open to everyone, and not just alumni.

Treacher Methodist Girls School, Taiping town will hail to thee! You are nearly as old as the town. You have groomed generations of girls. You have been there for 20,831 girls and will be there for more.

Hmm, are you already thinking where to get bikes (YAY!)? If you are not currently living in Taiping, you can get from family or relatives. If all have left the town, don't worry. Where's there a will, there's a bike!!! Yup, somehow, somewhere, we'll get a bike for you.

The important thing now is to sign up.

Get your old gang there (yoohoo, Phang, Norma, SChooi, LYin, SMing, Gaik Hua, Yew Peng, Nor Azah, Min Choo, Azrinah, Najeemu, Phooi Bee and all from 5ScR...).

Get your family there (take my word, it will be an event that they will remember forever).

To sign up and/or get further details, please email Esther Hor, Form 3 student in charge of registration, at silk_rehtse@yahoo.com or Puan Sharifah, teacher-in-charge, at sazub171@gmail.com.

COMING UP SOON! Class of '70 visits school and pledges support for the 120th anniversary cyclethon.



PICTURES COURTESY OF LOW IISHAN, BORN IN SUBANG JAYA TO TAIPING MARI PARENTS.