Peter Chong

From the past:

“I don't know what [my wife] saw in me, a dumb and poor fellow. No comment from you lot!

2004

When Harry and I joined ABHS in 1964, it was I thought a bit of let down after our having attended and boarded the elite Toowoomba Grammar School for 4 years. But I was wrong. Four years ago after attended a reunion at ABHS, Harry and I agreed we enjoyed it much more than a reunion at TGS even though Alan Jones (OBE), an old boy of the school (two years my senior) was our main speaker. You, guys, at Asquith are more real and down to earth (hooray). I guess we were slightly older and wiser when we joined you all at ABHS.

It was a regret that I did not join you guys earlier to get to know some of you better. Only a year I was at ABHS. I remember I sat next to John Adderley for my first maths lesson with Mr. Williams. John, I have tried to locate you for years and I am glad now I got your email. I am still trying to locate Roger Steele. Anyone knows whereabout he is? Anyone remember another Chinese guy in our class, his name is Aw. Is he still around or has gone back to HK? I remember the awesome four rugby first players who got picked for the Combined High Schools team touring to Canberra. They are Alan Bruce (lockforward), Ian Alwill (inside-centre), Harry Chong (half-back) and the fullback, I forgot his name. Can someone fills me in his name? Great memories!

After I left ABHS, I repeated LS again at Ultimo Tafe. I am glad I was not the only one repeating LS. After passing the LS, I ventured to Sydney Uni. trying doing BA. After several years at uni., I decided to quit as I was not doing very well. I worked for my uncle who just opened up a delicatessen (International Deli) in St. Ives along the Monavale Rd. I guess some of you might have known that deli. Make the story short, after some years passed, I decided to complete my BA degree at Sydney Uni. and Dip.Ed at Sydney Teachers College. The reason that drove me back to uni. was the prayers of some of my Asian Christian friends with whom I was doing weekly Bible Study at the University campus. They were mostly students and I was the only one not a student. I then applied and got accepted at my previous uni. I also moved to Coogee and lived in a flat with the other students.

While I was doing my degree in the 78’s and living around Eastern suburb area, I met a Thai girl who is much younger than me as I skipped several years after my last venture at uni. Her name is Wati and was doing Science Degree. After 1 year engagement, we then got married. We decided to move to Hornsby to live as one of our close friends who lived there encouraged us to do so. We did.

Several years passed again before we had our two boys.

They both now attend Barker College and age 16 and 13.

Not my choice of course that they attend that school. My choice would be ABHS for them of course. Being a school teacher, how can I afford their fees which total $30,000 per annum? But my wife feels she can afford it. She almost earns double than what I earn. A bit of background about her. She is a very academic wife. She has three Master Degrees (Master of Computing, Master of Management and MBA) and a Bachelor Science Degree. I don’t know what she saw in me, a dumb and poor fellow. No comment from you lot! I myself have been a school teacher at the Open High School (Previously is called Sydney Correspondence School) for the last 19 years. My subjects were Indonesian, ESL (English as Second Language) and Arts. I retired early last year. However, I still teach casually if the Dept. rings me. Several weeks ago, I was called to Asquith Girls High. The girls were behaving excellently. Several years ago, when there was a train strike or bus strike as I could not get to my school, I was appointed to ABHS for two days. The boys were absolutely behaving well and polite as I told them that I was an old boy from this school. If they were not careful, I said to them, they can be like me and many others who are successful in their trades too. We all did come from this school, the great ABHS. It sure brought back some good memories of the school. Remembering Alan Bruce and the gang were playing basketball at the front yard. Peter Rigg was training the boys rugby at the same oval. It seems just like yesterday. I only remember the happy thoughts. Can’t wait to meet up with all of you on 31st. I hope I still can recognize most of you. If I don’t, please do accept my apology.