From Ronnie Koh, in South Australia

Dear Dave ,

I am glad that I have now made a new friend, a younger member of the old boys of our Alma Mater, St. Patrick’s School. Thank you for the perusal of the “ A letter from Dave to the teens of Kulim ( “ beloved Kulim” ) 1957 – 1965.” I commend you for initiating “Thetree RU Project” . Keep up the great work and the Tree will flourish. Unfortunately, the old boys of Bukit Mertajam High School have completely lost touch with one another – what a shame!

Dear Bill,

I giggle at your “ Friday Funny “ email & I showed it to my wife, Alice & she blushed & burst out laughing. I have a lot of geriatrics in my Practice & in a subtle way I relate to them the email. I reiterated that as the women get older the breasts hit the South Pole and hence the picture in the email! Incidentally, Adelaide has a nudist beach at Moana. Most of us are low on serum level of Vit D as we are have Sun Block 30 + and covered up from the UV radiation.I play three days of 18 holes of golf weekly, I drink my milk and I still have to take 1000 iu of Ostelin Vit D ! How about the nudist beach at Batu Ferringhi ? ! No takers.

(Comment by Bill- Ronnie, U R joking. Ronnie was a bit tired when he wrote about "Funny Friday " I don't know where he got that from.

Dear Stewart,

Many thanks for your very exhaustive email . You have an amazing recollection of the names. I am sorry that we lost Dr Choong Tet Min who also did his internship in Penang. He was to take over my Medical Post with the 3^rd Royal Malay Regiment when I returned to be the Medical Officer I/C of Batu Gajah Dist. Hosp. I hardly return to Kulim these days due to some misunderstanding with some relatives in Kulim. .

I caught up with Kok Poh, Ng Chew Wah, H.M & SI Malakar in Kulim on our way to South America x 3 weeks a couple of years ago. Haven’t seen them for years.

We have more face to wash & less hair to comb these days.

I had a big b’day party on 14^th March. The Surgery gave me a surprise and my children invited my contemporaries to Imperial Peking Resturant.

As Australia is short of GPs I keep on working. I still enjoy my work. I am a member of Grange Golf Club which boasts of 18 holes West Course – lots of deep bunkers and 18 holes East Course – narrow & lots of water & wet land. I have my Thursdays off and 0900 – 1300hrs on alt. Sat. as the younger GPs will not work.

We migrated here in 1977 and I bought over my building at St Morris & practiced there for 28 yrs & when I turned 65 in 2005 I decided to join a big Practice so that I could slow down, play golf and lots of Overseas’ travelling. I practiced in Menglembu, Perak from 1967 – 1976 as my wife was from Ipoh. I met her when she did her Nursing in Penang. We have 8 grandchildren – 2 sets of twins!. Mu daughter, Cheryl is the youngest, She is a Dentist. She has twin boys – 3 yrs old.

My second son, Jarrod is a Consultant Accident/Emergency Specialist at Royal Adelaide Hospital & now at a Private Hosp – Wakefield Hosp. His wife Browyn Gordon (Aussie) is in Psychiatrist training . They have a twin – boy & a girl and also a daughter , Maddie – 4 yrs old and a latest son – 7 months old. My eldest son, Steve is in a big Primary Care Medical Practice and his wife, Anita (ABC – Australian born Chinese ) – a boy, Elliot – 6yrs & Phoebe – 3 yrs old and Anita is a Ph D Consultant Rheumatologist at Royal Adelaide Hosp & Private Practice at Wakefield Hosp. The grandchildren keep the grandma busy.

More next time, as I have to work tomorrow.

Regards & Best Wishes to All of You. Some photos next time

Ronnie

(Comment: Ronnie, keep writing . U R fantastic. U write very well)