The organising committee members are all smiles at the class of 1980 reunion.
MORE than 40 years after leaving school, 77 SMK (P) Sultan Ibrahim, Johor Baru alumnae had a momentous reunion.
Datin Rashidah Hashim, 60, mooted the idea for the class of 1980 to have a reunion after failing to recognise a former schoolmate earlier this year.
“I attended the wedding of my former schoolmate’s son and realised that I did not know what she looked like as it had been years since we last met.
“During the wedding, I also met other former schoolmates and as we talked, we realised that there were some friends who had passed away.
“I told them we really needed to have a reunion as soon as possible. After the wedding, we formed a committee to organise this reunion.”
Rashidah, who is now living in Kuala Lumpur, said that she was glad to see a significant number of former schoolmates at the reunion which was held in a hotel in Johor Baru.
“Some were unable to attend as they had migrated but I am happy that most of us could be here to spend some time reminiscing about our school days.”
She said three former teachers also attended the reunion.
Quality control manager Lau Soi Ling, 60, said that she was happy to see her friends again, especially her best friend in school, Julia Hamzah.
“We could not stop laughing as we reminisced about our time in school. We went through so much together and it was nice to look back.
“I can still remember discussing with Julia our exam marks.
“I also remember going to her house during Hari Raya when her mother would prepare all kinds of lovely dishes.
“Then during Chinese New Year, she would visit me,” said Lau, who now lives in Singapore.
Before the reunion, Julia, 60, along with 21 other alumnae, visited their old school located at Jalan Abdul Rahman Andak, Johor Baru.
“Everything looks the same but the place just feels smaller now,” said Julia.
I used to take part in sports activities and remember the field being very big but it looks small now.
“As I walked along the school corridors, I also remembered our former principal Dawn Parry who was highly respected for taking the school to great heights.”
