OGA CENTRE
The “birth” of the O.G.A. Centre
began when the immediate past President and Patron, Mr. Beh Cheng
Chuah in late October 2004 agreed to let the first floor of his two
storey shop house at No. 47,Jalan Stesen, Taiping to the Old
Georgians’ Association, Taiping. This building is very ideally
situated as it is very close, about 50 meters to SMK. St. George,
our Alma Mater and also diagonally opposite the K.E. Corner our
“rivals from across the drain”.
The premises had not been
occupied for quite a long time and the place was quite dusty with
cobwebs here and there. The walls needed a fresh coat of paint.
Members of the committee stated the grueling task of cleaning and
scrubbing the place and also carting away all the unwanted items
left behind by the previous tenant.
The
landlord got a contractor to repair the place and painted the façade
in Irish green and white, the colour of the school. He also had the
walls of the building repainted. All these, costing RM 2,750.00 were
with the compliments of Mr. Beh. The wooden floor was varnished and
a portion carpeted at the cost of RM1,100.00 that was paid by the
Hon. Treasurer, Mr. Yeap Thean Hock.
Then, came the contributions in kind from the President in the form
of a computer, a television, a VCR, a cupboard, a table tennis
table, a dining table and writing table, a computer table from
Vice-President, Dr. Lim Kean Ghee, a settee, also from
Vice-President, Mr. Chan Fook Keong and other various items from
other members of the Committee. With these, basic items we were able
to set up the centre and also created a website
www.taipingoga.com. To all intents and purposes, and through the
concerted efforts put in by members of the Committee led by our
President, Mr. Paul Loh Eng Wah, the OGA Centre was “born”.
The
good news is that we now have an OGA Centre that we are proud to
call our very own. The great news is that the centre can be the
rallying point for all Old Georgians to foster and promote the
Georgian spirit. The place is open on every Saturday and Sunday at
10.30 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. for all Old Georgians and friends to meet
and get-together. Since opening the centre on 1st
November 2004, we had sing-along sessions on Sundays. We will also
be organizing more activities at this centre from time to time.
On
18 December 2004, a fellowship dinner cum official opening of the
centre and launching of the website was held. On this night, about
one hundred Old Georgians attended this auspicious function. While
the younger Old Georgians talked about their careers, the older ones
talked about their families, children and grand children. The
function began with the singing of the School Rally. Many had not
sung the School Rally since they left school and reminisced with
nostalgia the happy times they had when they were in school.
Photographs of Old Georgians with the Brothers and teachers since
1947 were displayed at the centre.
Our
fellowship night was graced by the presence of Miss Yoong Yook Yam,
the principal of the School and Puan Sujatha Vasanthan, the
immediate past principal. Also present, was one of our Patrons Dato
Dr. Gurmukh Singh, the President of the Old Georgians’ Association,
Federal Territory and Selangor and Vice President, Mr. Fabian
Pereira.
With
the support of all Old Georgians in the form of moral or material
contributions, we would definitely be in good stead to organize more
activities for Old Georgians and also give the necessary support and
assistance to our Alma Mater. For this we Old Georgians can be proud
to call ourselves
“Sons of St. Georges, Valiant and True.”
(Editor's Note: We apologise for any errors or short comings. However we welcome members who would like to contribute articles or news. We would try to publish every contribution if space permit)
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