BBGSOGA NEW YEAR BASH

Dear BBGSians

We had a ball of a time on 4 August 2009, reliving those wonderful schoolgirl days, walking down memory lane with our friends, teachers and all who were part of life at BBGS! What a grand reunion that was at Pavilion--the very premises of our alma mater!

We certainly made news! But more importantly, we came together not only to reignite the BBGS spirit but also for a good cause – the launch of the Elena Cooke Education Fund.
With such great aspirations launched and the bonds of friendships renewed, the BBGS OGA aims to keep our flag flying high. There will certainly be more opportunities for us to meet in 2010 and to get our plans to give back to society off the ground.

So, join us for tea and hear the roll out of BBGS OGA Activities 2010. We would also love to hear how you would like to be part of these activities.

Date : January 9, 2010 (Saturday)
Time : 1.00 – 4.00 pm
Venue : Bamboo Grove Chinese Restaurant (1st Floor)
Royal Selangor Club at Dataran Merdeka
Jalan Raja, Kuala Lumpur.
Cost : RM 25 per pax.

RSVP: bbgsoga@gmail.com or call Patricia (019 6683038)/Poh Lan (012 6312343)

Notes:
Please park at basement of Dataran or at metered parking bays along the road.
Please make prior payment by cheque in favour of Bukit Bintang Girls’ School Old Girls’ Association and mail to Unit 507 Block D, Phileo Damansara 1, No 9 Jalan 16/11, 46350 PJ or bank in directly to EON Bank (2044100055514) and email (patricia@patlin.com.my) or fax ( 03-76600460) your bank-in slip to us.

Nisi Dominus Frustra
Without God All Is In Vain

Not yet an OGA member? Sign up. You can download the form at : bbgsoga.blogspot.com

Payback Time for BBGS Girls

From left to right: BBGSOGA Adviser Ms Moey Yoke Lai, President Phang Sow Yoong,
Vice President Lee Yin Ling, Hon Secretary Aimee Liew, Asst Secretary Wong Kim Lin,
Social Secretary SS Patricia, Sports Secretary Claudia Chan,
Committee Members Kwan Poh Lan and Liew Lai Ying
(not in the photo Treasurer Cheah Swee Peng)

The message was clear at the EGM-cum-Hari Raya Tea held on 10 October at the Methodist College Kuala Lumpur: it is time for BBGS girls to pay back to society what they have gained from their alma mater.

After singing the school song, BBSOGA President Ms Phang Sow Yoong outlined the roadmap which includes setting up an infrastructure for the alumnae and Elena Cooke Education Fund, running a membership drive to recruit 2,000 life members, compiling a choral speaking handbook, recruiting “stockists” to be based in various parts of Malaysia and overseas to sell BBGS souvenirs and launching a publicity campaign to solicit funds from corporations.

“However, we must first go back to our former BBGS students to ask them to contribute to the Elena Cooke Education Fund. There is no gold or glory in joining the BBGSOGA. Being a member gives us an opportunity to repay our debt to BBGS and to give back to society,” said Phang who urged alumnae to contribute their expertise and time, and be the “jigsaw pieces” in the big picture.

BBGSOGA Adviser Ms Moey Yoke Lai exhorted the alumnae to go forth and do whatever was in our power to be “a mighty force for good”.

She cited as examples our founding “mothers” Ms Betty Langlands, Ms Bessie Maclay, Ms Eva Prouse, Ms Mary Glasgow, Ms Green and Ms Elena Cooke who had given the best years of their lives, some even till their last breath, for the good of the school they had so lovingly set up and developed.

Ms Moey retold the story of how Ms Prouse and Ms Glasgow had stayed behind to protect the school during World War II instead of evacuating early. When they finally left, they still managed to be of service to others in the ship which they were travelling. Ms Prouse eventually died in a Japanese internment camp. Ms Cooke was a medical student in Hong Kong during World War II where she helped out as an auxiliary nurse. Once, her nerves of steel emboldened her to defy the orders of a Japanese soldier.

The examples of such courage against all odds was brought up to illustrate the fact that BBGS old girls are called upon to be a shining example of BBGS values wherever we may be, whether it be in serving the underprivileged, fighting for justice, standing up against corruption or even simply extending financial help or a listening ear.

To put it in Ms Moey’s words, “What can we do to help our society so that we can be a mighty force for good?”

Later, the chairman of the working committee, Lim Kit Wan, presented the accounts of the Back2BBGS event in August. This was followed by a spirited Q & A session that proved that BBGS girls can be feisty within a working democracy.

An election was then conducted to replace the EXCO members who resigned at the last EGM on 16 October. The present committee is as follows:

President : Phang Sow Yoong
Vice President : Lee Yin Ling
Honorary Secretary : Aimee Liew
Assistant Secretary : Wong Kim Lin
Treasurer : Cheah Swee Peng
Social Secretary : SS Patricia
Sports Secretary : Claudia Chan
Committee Member : Kwan Poh Lan
Committee Member : Liew Lai Ying
Auditor : Loo Mi Li
Auditor : Foong Mei Lin


It is heartwarming that the new committee comprises five former school captains, one vice-captain, two senior lawyers and BBGSians from various industries—all wishing to
repay their debt to their alma mater.

After a resolution to copyright the BBGS school badge, the alumnae proceeded to fellowship over Hari Raya Tea and buy souvenirs to remind them of their beloved BBGS.

Report submitted by Lim Yuet Suan, School Captain 1984

EGM-cum-Hari Raya Tea on 10.10.09

Dear BBGS Alumnae,

It has been more than a month since we held our mega reunion at Pavilion on 4 August 2009. We were overjoyed as we caught up with our former schoolmates and teachers again. Emotion ran high when we lined up to welcome our former headmistress, Miss Elena M Cooke, as guest-of-honour for the morning event.

For those who missed the “mother of all reunions”, please join us for our EGM-cum-Hari Raya Tea at 2pm on 10 October 2009 (Sat). You can sign on the spot and become immediate BBGSOGA member by paying RM3 (for 2009 only) or RM200 for life membership.

BBGS is alive! Having benefited from a great school with great values, let us now join hands and play our part in nation building. Nisi Dominus Frustra!

BBGS we pledge to thee

Our love and toil in the years to be

When we are grown and take our place

As loyal women with our race.

Phang Sow Yoong 

President 

BBGS Old Girls’ Association 

HP: 012-292 1460 

Email: syphang@gmail.com

………………………………………………………………………………

Notice of Extraordinary General Meeting

Notice is hereby given that an Extraordinary General Meeting of the Bukit Bintang Girls School åOld Girls’ Association (the “OGA”) will be held at;

TIME: 2.00pm

DATE: 10 October 2009 (Sat)

PLACE: Methodist College Kuala Lumpur,

Off Jalan Tun Sambathan 4, Brickfields, 50470 Kuala Lumpur

AGENDA

1. To consider and to receive the interim accounts in respect of the “Back to BBGS” event held on August 4, 2009.

2. To elect :

2.1 a Vice-President;

2.2 an Honorary Secretary;

2.3 an Assistant Secretary;

2.4 a Sports Secretary;

2.5 a Social Secretary;

2.6 an Honorary Treasurer;

2.7 an ordinary committee member;

Provided that upon the coming into effect of the amendments to the Constitution as passed at the Extraordinary General Meeting held on August 16, 2009, the Sports Secretary and Social Secretary shall be redesignated as ordinary committee members.

3. To appoint two auditors for BBGS OGA who will also audit the accounts in respect of the BACK2BBGS event held on 4 August 2009.

4. To register the BBGS Alumni emblem as copyright of the Bukit Bintang Girls’ School Old Girls’ Association (or BBGS Alumni as it shall be known).

Phang Sow Yoong

President

Kuala Lumpur

18 September 2009

Enclosure

1. Emblem of BBGS Alumni

BBGS Ethos

Souvenirs to Keep BBGS Memories Alive

Photo courtesy of Rosemarie Peng


If you missed buying these souvenirs during the BACK2BBGS Event held at Pavilion on 4 August, you will be able to buy them at the EGM-cum-Hari Raya Tea on 10.10.09. Watch out for our value packs and special offers!

Even Disability Couldn't Dampen the BBGS Spirit

By Karen Lau (Paris)


Karen (right) with Lisa in the center.

When my buddy, Lisa Leong Yun Ping showed me the article in the Star about the BACK2BBGS event at Pavilion, she told me she wanted to attend the function. Three years ago, Lisa had a stroke and lapsed into a coma for five days.

In my heart I thought that it might be better for Lisa to stay at home as people would stare at her for being in a wheelchair. I was really glad that Susan Foong got her a ticket and informed her to use the back entrance that was more disabled-friendly.

When we arrived at Pavilion, everybody was busy chatting with one another. Lisa was excited and happy to see so many of her schoolmates. Well, if Lisa made such a great attempt to come for the event, where are the others? Wouldn’t they regret missing this happy day?

Then I saw Miss Cooke walking in slowly, flatly refusing to use a wheelchair despite her frailty. I was choked with emotions and cried tears of happiness when the emcee, Norini prompted us to greet our beloved headmistress: "Good morning Miss Cooke". It was so good to sing the school song again, “BBGS, we pledge to thee…”

Norini was so real throughout the event that I just could not hold back my tears that kept welling up. It has been 37 years since I was a schoolgirl wearing well-starched uniform, white socks and shoes.

Indeed, 4 August 2009 was one of my happiest days when I was to be able to meet Miss Cooke, Miss Moey, Miss Yeo and Mrs Thanen again. The bonus was a bear hug from Mrs Junie Simon who still remembers me. When the going gets tough, the tough gets going. Keep the BBGS spirit alive!

Note: Karen Lau, who now lives in Paris with her family, was really happy to be back in Kuala Lumpur for the BACK2BBGS event. She left BBGS in 1972, but BBGS has never left her—even in Paris. Together with some BBGSians in Paris, Karen organises sightseeing, ‘nasi lemak’ picnics, CNY ‘yee sang’ dinners for Malaysians living in France.

A Carnival to Celebrate Breast Health

Dr Evelyn Ho (BBGS Class of 1979) is passionate about educating women on breast health. She comes up with creative ways of encouraging breast cancer survivors to live life to the fullest. She would like to share this announcement with BBGS alumnae...


OutRageously PiNk Nite (OPN) is back in Bangsar on 7 Nov 2009. Don't know what you missed previously in 2004, then, check out the reports at www.radiologymalaysia.org/breasthealth

In the run up to the event, Radiology Malaysia is running some fun, easy going contests.

3-word slogan for OutRageously PiNk Nite 2009. In just 3 words, come up with something that describes or embodies the spirit of OutRageously Pink Nite 2009 – a carnival like event to celebrate breast health. (For example: Live Life Fully or Joy, Fun, Laughter).

3-min Digital Video Create a 3-min digital video (like an advertisement or story) on your mobile phone, camera or videocam that is centred/themed on “Living Life to the Fullest even with Breast Cancer".

Contests end 30 Sep 2009. So hurry, put on your thinking caps now. Check it out:
www.radiologymalaysia.org/opn2009

Nostalgia Overload

Lee Su Kim (right) with her friends at the Back2BBGS event.


It felt like walking through a time tunnel ...treading on what was once BBGS soil, then emerging in the huge cavernous main plaza to see so many familiar faces - of old friends, school prefects, house captains, school captains, teachers, ( Mrs Boler, Mrs Simon, Mrs Thanen, etc) the school jaga, the school clerk and Ms Cooke, the living legend herself looking frail but still feisty -- it was Nostalgia Overload.

So many of us had tears in our eyes. I couldnt stop tearing up myself. I wondered why. It wasn't that we were weeping for our school anymore - that is past and gone and we have accepted it if never quite reconciled with the way it was downed. A quiet heartache is that its existence is still not memorialized in some form or other and we wait patiently for that recognition of a great school.

I think the tears were for our youth, for a time when we were innocent, carefree schoolgirls, for a time that can never be again, but always treasured in our hearts. As we reach middle age and beyond, we are astonished that feeling of being and feeling young is still there bubbling away inside us, and it all came alive again that special day.


Professor Madya Dr. Lee Su Kim, School of Language Studies & Linguistics Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, is from the Class of 1972.

Keep the BBGS Spirit Alive...Sign Up as a BBGS OGA Member Today!

Dear BBGS Alumnae,

The spirit of BBGS is very much alive and kicking! It was most evident at the BACK2BBGS grand reunion at Pavilion on 4 August. 

Even after the event, we are still receiving emails and calls from former BBGS girls who want to help in our recently revived BBGS Old Girls’ Association. We believe every BBGSian should be given an opportunity to express her love for our alma mater.

The OGA’s last major reunion was our centenary dinner in 1993. In 2000, the school was closed and relocated to Seri Bintang Utara in Cheras. Disheartened by the demolition our beloved school, the OGA had been inactive until it held its AGM on 11 July 2009.

Our first task is thus to reconnect with BBGSians and to establish a database. You can help us by first registering as OGA members so that you can be updated on our activities and the Elena Cooke Education Fund.

If you need a membership form, please email us at bbgsoga@gmail.com Membership for 2009 is only RM3 while life membership is RM200. We encourage you to sign up as a life member and let us know the areas you would like to contribute to. Together, we can keep the BBGS legacy alive! 

Nisi Dominus Frustra

 

Phang Sow Yoong

President

BBGS Old Girls’ Association

Then and Now

If you want to know where the various BBGS blocks were once located, bring this map along when you next visit Pavilion.

Location plan prepared by Jenny Yim and Irene Chen.