Pam Donald
1958-
My sister
Lyn and I (Pam Donald) started as two of the very first students at the RAAF School.
We went to Penang in 1958 with our father, Sgt Ray Donald and mother, Daphne Donald.
There was no school at first, we did Qld Correspondence at home for a few months,
then a meeting was called of mothers who had been teachers - our mother was one
of these. As a result, the school in Residency Road was opened, staffed by mothers.
Teachers came from Australia, I think, the following year. I remember a big thrill
was getting a choice of flavours for our daily milk - and it was actually cold!!
We
stayed at the Australian Hostel for a few weeks, then had temporary accommodation
in Hock Hin Terrace (big Chinese cemetery behind us) and finally lived in Reservoir
Crescent, Ayer Itam.
I remember my parents playing competitive badminton,
their team was the Ayer Rajahs. And going for picnics at Batu Ferringhi when there
were no buildings there at all - just a beautiful beach.
Teachers I remember
were Mr Lyons, Mr McLaughlin, Miss Horne and Miss Bamberger. And Mr Christian,
who also ran the Junior Red Cross, which I belonged to.
Schoolfriends: Cheryl
Lindsay, Jayne Ross, Jenny Gammon, Caroline Tooth, Tina Collis, Lesley Jenner
... it's been a thrill to see some of them in photos on the website!