May 15, 2012

Racial Harmony in Sibu 1950's

Once in a while you come across an old photo in your friend's album which reminds you of your childhood. It sort of makes your heart miss a beat and you exclaim..."Yes I remember pretty women wearing clothes like this for special occasions!! In those days you really wanted to grow up quick and wear clothes like them!!"

And I remember the faint fragrance they would leave behind them after they had passed you by - the Florida water for example. I also remember the nice talcum powder they would have put on after their bath. These scents just sort of float into your mind and warms up your soul.

But most importantly these were the women who had formed a great relationship  because of shared faith and they practised Godly ways. It would be wonderful if we could identify all of them in this photo. What kind of lives did they lead? How many grand children do they have now?

After more than 6 decades are we doing better in the arena of social and racial harmony?


Group photo of Methodist girl students

The Methodist Secondary School was founded in the 1949 in Sibu.

It was actually another phase of the older Yuk Ing School for Girls founded by the Hoovers. Because of the needs of the expanding population and the limited human resources it was decided to establish a secondary school for both boys and girls. the Methodist Primary School had already become co-ed since after the war. With funds available from the United States in memory of Rev Summers who died during the Japanese War the secondary school was established.

One  of the philosophies of the  instutition was to instil amongst the students the love of all mankind.
Here you see in this photo a very multi-racial presentation by the students. the fashion of that time was very similar to our fashion today!! And clearly these fresh faced students  were innocent and reaching out to each other without fear and favour.
This photo is very symbolic of the peace and harmony of Sibu in those days. I wish I could identify all these students.

(Photo from the collection of Rev. Ling Kai Cheng)

8 comments:

Ann, Chen Jie Xue 陈洁雪 said...

a privileged group of girls who were educated. Any idea where they are now?

Anonymous said...

Girls of those days were all entitled to become Miss Malaysia because they were slim....

Ensurai said...

Yes...very privileged indeed. Mrs. Mary Hoover in 1903-1941 went every where in the Sibu area to encourage girls to go to her Yuk Ing Girls' School...and later when the Methodist School was established the teachers also tried their best to get girls to go to school....their philosophy...educated mothers bring about solid and forward looking society....TRUE TRUE!!! The Yuk Ing Girls were snapped up by young men as soon as they graduated....

Ensurai said...

Anonymous...yes..in those days (before KFC and powdered milk)...girls were all pencil thin....

Ensurai said...

Ann...I would really appreciate help from readers and find out where they pretty ladies are now....

Ann, Chen Jie Xue 陈洁雪 said...

, except me, I was an HANG JI GU NI child, and I was never slim, not even now.

Ensurai said...

Ann...we were the fat chickens...small bones..and lots of flesh...hahahahaha

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