Relocation

One key question that crosses the minds of many retirees or senior citizens is - where do you stay to spend the final period of your lives? I recall visiting one retirement centre in George Town in Tasmania and considered these homes both practical and ideal for retirees to spend the final part of their lives (Read here). Of course, not everyone finds this attractive!

For Monica, one of the ex-high school classmates chose to relocate to a place not too far from the homes of her children. Her decision to relocate permanently away from KK prompted the organizing of a farewell brunch. This gathering allowed her to meet up with her former classmates before she moves to KL in early December 2022.

This gathering on 25 November was held barely two months after we last met at Hyatt on 6 October 2022 when one of the ex-classmates came back to KK from Australia for holidays (Read here).

Brunch on 25 November 2022.

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Just a few days ago, a few of us seniors gathered to look at a proposal about building a more high class retirement home/apartment on a piece of land for retirees and senior citizens. The land which is within reasonable distance to major facilities like airport, hospitals, parks and shopping centres is also within a forested area. All agreed that this setting is ideal for this type of development. While there may not be shortage of takers, the long term success of this retirement home depends very much on the health monitoring, nursing, personal care, social and recreational facilities provided and a good operator. Whether this will ever materialize is yet to be seen!

Copy-right Design.

STS 33rd Graduation 2022

While Sabah Theological Seminary (STS) finally has the opportunity to hold the 33rd Graduation Ceremony at its own Auditorium on 5th November 2022 without any restriction, I couldn't help but remember what a challenging time STS have encountered since 2020. First, it was the Covid 19 pandemic and then followed by a few major land slides.

Ever since the opening of the newly completed Multi-Purpose Education Centre in STS in early 2010 (Read here), STS has not had any major land slip until late 2020 and early 2021. Incessant heavy rainfall in late 2020 triggered four major land slides around the hill slope of the Multi-Purpose Education Centre. Getting these failed slopes repaired was the toughest challenge I faced since taking charge of the maintenance of all STS buildings and external infrastructures from the inception day of STS in late 1980's.

Aerial photo of two of the four land slides which occurred at the southern part of the hill.

After repair in late July 2022,

Northeast corner immediately after land slide.

After repair in mid-June 2022.

29 October 2022.

By the end of October 2022, creepers have literally overgrown over the whole concrete shotcrete reinforced with soil nails.

Repair of the land slide next to the Old Chapel (Read here) was equally challenging because the land boundary with the neighbouring land is midway along the hill slope. Any construction of permanent repair structure from the bottom of the hill beyond the boundary would be deemed encroachment into the neighbouring property. In the end, we were left with the option of constructing a new retaining wall founded on bored micro-piles along the hill slope as a remedial solution.

Land slide next to the Chapel's car park.

Aerial view of the new retaining wall taken in late July 2022.

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The repair of the failed slopes was completed well before the 33rd graduation ceremony on 5th November 2022. The ceremony in the afternoon proceeded smoothly from the beginning all the way to the end without any hitch. Eighty four students came on stage to receive their diplomas. Recipients include full time students, part-time students, online students and senior citizens.

STS Choir.

Ir. Chong Vun Fah, a professional engineer and an elder of BCCM KK(E) was conferred Master of Christian Ministries in the November 2022 graduation.

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STS is now recognized in Asia region as a reputable theological study institution. It is now accredited to offer doctorate degree. Many of my peers and friends have gone through this institution on part-time basis to secure training in Church Ministry, Christian Ministries among others.

Quite a number of BCCM KK(E) members received their scrolls in the November 2017 graduation.

In the Library after the graduation on 4 Nov 2017.

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Audience who were present in the 2018 graduation on 3 Nov 2018.

Group photo of the Board of Governors, faculty and graduating students after the November 2018 graduation.

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A few more BCCM KK(E) members with their scrolls after the November 2019 graduation.

Joseph Wong, Violet Liew and Theresa Wang.

Joseph Wong with friends and supporters.

Fraser's Hill After Almost 50 Years

I remember visiting Fraser's Hill at least twice in 1973. Once was a day trip of the Ex-fifians of the 5th Residential College Christian Fellowship in 1973. The second was an overnight stay in August 1973 by a few of the same fifian group. Though I have quite a number of old photos to show the numerous places I had been to - a waterfall (Read here), tennis court (Read here) and place of accommodation; still, I have very little vivid recollection of any of these places.

My wife is much better in recognizing places. As we drove around Fraser's Hill, she was quick to point to a directional sign which reads "Rumah Methodist". Instantly, she remembered that was where the Ex-fifians of the 5th Residential College Christian Fellowship Group visited in 1973. Rumah Methodist is just a mere 2.5Km away from where we stayed at the Silverpark Apartment.

Rumah Methodist is still being offered to the public for accommodation. However, it's exterior really looked old and unkept.  

Colourized photo.

Old photo of 1973 trip when we just

arrived at Rumah Methodist

Now, moss and green algae grown over surfaces of the roof and concrete kerb give an old and unkept appearance of this site.

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At the rear of the living quarter, I could instantly recall an old photo taken with a few Ex-fifian friends at that location in that particular day trip (Read here). It is truly amazing that I could still squat at the very same spot at Rumah Methodist after almost 50 years. 

After my graduation, this Ex-fifian group continued to meet up occasionally. We met in August 2009 (Read here) and again in August 2016 after David Tow came back from Sydney for the very last time (Read here). His health continued to deteriorate after going back to Sydney and he passed away on 2 October 2017.

Some of the men at the day trip in 1973.

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Some of our group members at the little open space
behind Rumah Methodist back in 1973.

Colourized photo.
Typical landscape at Fraser's Hill. We took a walk
along the sealed road back in 1973.

Colourized photo.

Colourized photo.
Photo of the Fraser's Hill outing group.

Original B/W.

Photo of the Fraser's Hill outing group.

Colourized photo.

Typical white colour low fence is still easily seen today!

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I am very certain I had my second trip in August 1973 because of a birthday cerebration we had that evening as recorded in an old photo. The lady's birthday happens to be in August!

David Tow was the cameraman.

KC Ho was the cameraman.

At the waterfall, most likely the Jeriau Waterfall!