Reunion of Fifians

David Tow remains as the undisputed individual who could motivate the fifians to meet and be connected over and over again.

David Tow, a lecturer of the Faculty of Education of the University of Malaya was a Fellow of MU 5th Residential College in the 70's. When we first entered the university as freshies in 1973 and stayed at the 5th College, David opened his living quarter in the College to allow us to meet and fellowship. We called ourselves the 5th College Christian Fellowship and now the Fifians in short.

At around the mid 2000's, David and his wife Rosalina decided to relocate and return to his original country, Australia for good. Since then, they have come back occasionally to Malaysia. Reunions were always organised for the Fifians to meet up with him and for fellowship. The last gathering I attended was in August 2009 (Read here).  He came back twice after that. I being in Sabah did not attend any of them.

A few years ago, his health deteriorated significantly after two strokes. Currently, he is wheel chair-bound and he can no longer talk. A procedure was done to insert a tube through the neck to his stomach for feeding because he is unable to swallow due to weakened muscle. Nephrostomy tube insertion was also done to drain the urine via a catheter.

Despite of his condition, he and Rosalina made another trip back to Malaysia in July. All of us knew that this would be probably his last trip back to Malaysia.

I and my wife, also a fifian flew to KL to attend a reunion with him and other fifians in one of the home of the fifians on 15 August. Two smaller gatherings were held earlier in David's house on 23 July and 4 August. The one I attended was the largest with fifians coming from Singapore, Sarawak and Sabah. We had great time reminiscing old time, catching up on news about children and grandchildren.

More than 43 years have passed since we got to know each other. Most are now retirees and grandparents. Deep down, we knew that such occasions would become more difficult to organize because time is catching up fast.

Still, we had surprises. We discovered that one among us who had no culinary skill during our university student days is now a "chef extraordinaire" - cooking skill that he picks up as a hobby. KC Ho single-handedly cooked all the dishes we had that evening.

How the ladies looked in August 2016 as against in August 2009

With KC Ho in August 2016 as against in August 2009

My wife with Guek Yean, (right) a fellow 

Batu Pahatian and also ex Convent girl

We sang, just like old time! KC Ho, our guitarist during university days is still equally good with the guitar!

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When the rest were busy cooking in Lar Har's house, a few of us had private moments with David at his home.