A tribute to SJS Kuching and the La Salle brothers – Part 2

Kaypo Anak Sarawak is a Columnist  of  Hermit Hornbill at The Borneo Post Online , His article is  published  in The Borneo Post every Sunday. (Used by permission of the Author )

STUDYING in St Joseph’s Secondary School was an exciting experience that would probably remain with you for life.

Sarawak under the British colonial rule was in a state of emergency fighting a communist armed insurgency in the 1960s. Newly formed political parties were something new and confusing to our parents.

Those were the times without television, video games, and computers. Dating was strictly prohibited in SJS, no matter how longingly the boys were looking at the girls from St. Teresa’s across the road.

In 1962, the Brothers established a private school later renamed St Patrick’s School, to cater for students who had failed government examinations and so could not be admitted into government-aided schools. It was first housed in the Catholic Centre down the road. The first principal was the much feared Mr Andrew Siah.

There were many private schools in Kuching at that time, but St. Patrick’s turned out to be one of the best among them. Chinese educated kids would go there, pass their Form Five exam, and then join us in Form Six. In my class, they turned out to be brilliant students, especially in maths and science.

It was around 1962 and 1963 that the St. Joseph’s Primary school was built and opened for classes. The first principal was Brother Austin.

In 1963, Brother Hilary McGroary went back to Ireland for higher education, and Brother Albinus O’Flaherty became principal.

Brother Albinus has since become a legend among his former students. We called him affectionately James Bond behind his back because he looked a little like Sean Connery, the actor who played the role of the spy in the films. The scar on his cheek running to the corner of his mouth made him look warrior like.

Every Monday, he would go from class to class with a long cane in his hand. When he entered the class, we had to stand up, and display our weekly report card. If there is a red mark on the report card, Brother Albinus will deliver a stroke of his cane on your outstretched fingers. It was painful, but you knew he never meant to hurt physically.

That was about the time of the Brunei Azahari uprising and the Indonesian Konfrontasi. The Sarawak police headquarters was just next to the school football field. While we attended classes, the air outside would be filled with the puttering of the helicopter blades over the police grounds nearby. The helicopters were bringing a great deal of warring machines and troops into Kuching that time.

During the 60s, the team of teachers at SJS was strengthened by a host of teachers from India. Mr Joseph taught physics, Mr Mathai taught biology and chemistry, Mr Clarence taught mathematics, Mr Sebastian taught various science subjects. Mr Baboo was the celebrated teacher of history.

They were teachers par excellence, and contributed in no small measures to the reputation of SJS as one of the very top educational institutions in Sarawak. To make sure we passed our exams with good results, they would give us free extra classes during the afternoon, and on Saturday morning.

Under the guidance of the Brothers, physical development became an important part of our education. Students were expected to participate in the many sports events and games every day in the afternoon. In inter-school competitions, SJS was a name carved in gold in athletics, football, rugby, badminton, hockey, and even basketball.

I can still recall one sensational football final match between SJS and the up-and-coming Green Road Secondary school.

We had Michael Manyin weaving his magic in mid-field, Francis Gider blazing down the right wing, Mathiew what’s-his’s-surname tearing down the left and Edmond Mortig as fullback, heading the ball from one end to the other. Felix Sipel was the other full-back; he was built like a refrigerator. They were invincible.

But Green Road Secondary School team had this basketball state player as goalkeeper, who could catch anything you threw at him in the air. Our school team players were instructed to hit low, to see whether this super goalie could throw his body down to the ground. He could not, and we won the final seven to one.

For those students who were less inclined to sports and games, there were numerous activities in school for them such as the Ad Astra editorial committee, the Boy Scouts, the Interact Club, the Drama Club, the Music Club, and the Art Club.

Then we had the annual fun fair aimed at raising funds for various building projects. I was always assigned to the beverage section, selling all kinds of drinks to visitors. I had the honour of serving personally the then Chief Minister of Sarawak Datuk Stephen Kalong Ningkan. He wore a pistol on his belt and he liked beer.

We also had a system of school prefects who helped students cross the busy roads, and assisted the Brothers in enforcing school discipline.

Looking back four decades later, I am amazed at the genius of these La Salle Brothers in matters of education. They made sure we always aimed at excellence not only in our studies, but also in whatever we tried on the fields and other areas of our endeavour.

Through all those school activities that teachers and students took part in, the Brothers created a collective sense of community. We learned how to be leaders, how to value teamwork, and over time we learned the value of fierce loyalty and selfless dedication to the community. We were trained to be good citizens!

In 1970, Mr Polycarp Sim and Mr Poh Chin Han retired, after serving SJS for over 35 years. They have both passed away since, but they will always live on in the hearts of their former pupils as exemplary complete teachers who not only taught, but also loved their students irrespective of race, colour, or creed.

During that year, Brother Albinus was transferred to Sibu to become the principal of Sacred Heart School, and Brother Columba replaced him as the principal of SJS.

Though Brother Columba was also a disciplinarian, he was not so fearsome as Brother Albinus. He taught me Catechism for many years, but never once did he try to convert me to Christianity. It was he who told me about the La Salle Brothers’ three oaths — the oaths of poverty, chastity, and obedience. As a young schoolboy, I was stunned.

Even after I had started working, I would still approach Brother Columba whenever I had the odd pangs of spiritual crisis, and he would talk to me like an equal.

Eventually, Brother Columba retired in 1988, and Mr Gerald Lee took over as the first lay Catholic principal of SJS, thus ending the era of the Fathers and the La Salle Brothers in the administration of SJS. As they say, the rest is history.

Since then, Brother Columba had returned to Ireland, to continue his mission. Only Brother Albinus is still in Kuching. At the grand old age of nearly 80, he is still doing good work, organising tuition classes for the Bidayuh students in the Bau area, and helping them pass exams. I hear he has achieved phenomenal success, like everything he lays his hands on.

Brother Henry and Brother Hilary had passed on, while Brother Mark and Brother Adrian are now spending their twilight years in a nursing home in Ireland.

Four decades later, recalling my school days at SJS, I have to conclude I spent some of the happiest years of my life in that institution. To be under the wings of those Irish Brothers was indeed a privilege, for we were educated in the true sense of the word.

Sometimes, when I bump into former Josephians, I would begin loudly singing our old school anthem Sons of SJS, and a loud chorus would inevitably burst out thenceforth. It was always a joyous occasion.

Thank you all, the De La Salle Brothers of St Joseph’s in Kuching. May God bless you everyone!

(The writer can be reached at bapakmiki@yahoo.com)

ps:  HU Team would like to thank Madam Kathy Teo for the photo of  class of 64. Thank You Madam.

This is her message:-

”  I am an avid follower of Malaysian and in particular Sarawakian news featured in Hornbill Unleashed.  I particularly enjoy the articles written by SKY.  As a former 6th form pupil of SJS, from St. Teresa’s, I read with great interest the two articles by Kaypo who may have been my classmate in year 64.  I hope the photo I attach will be of interest to the author.  You will notice that the individuals in the photo are numbered; I had hoped to cross-reference the numbers with the names but never got round to doing it. Here goes.

Regards

Kathy Teo “‘

🙂