Tanjong, 1963/64

In December 1962 my sister, Rose finished sixth form and she won a scholarship to go for further studies in Australia. She came back from Kuching and she was not very sure whether she should go out to find a job to support her younger brother and sister or should she continue with her own education. She consulted my uncle and guardian, Lucas Thien about her dilemma. He was not pleased at all with her scholarship award for some strange reasons because I remember even now what he said to Rose. It made her cry.

“What about your brother and sister? Don’t be selfish, Rose. Go out; find a job and work to support your own brother and sister!” This almost resulted in Rose giving up her Colombo Plan scholarship! Fortunately she didn’t. The next thing I knew she took me to see the district officer in Miri and arranged for me to enter Tanjong Lobang School as a boarder. I was the only local boarder from Miri town. All the other boarders came from remote parts of Sarawak like Bintulu, Sarikei and Kanowit. The day scholars were Paul Lee, Hata Solhi and Lucas Chua. They were my classmates in St. Joseph's Miri. As soon as I was settled into boarding school, Rose left for Australia. She attended the University of New England in Armidale, a small town north of Sydney.