Roxanne Benfield
1972-1974 Years 4D, 5 E, 6C
Email: roxannemaher@aapt.net.au
Wow, what a great opportunity to relive the wonderful memories I have of being a RAAF brat in Malaysia.
Like many others, my first recollection is of the intense, suffocating heat that enveloped you like a wet, warm blanket the moment you stepped off the plane. I also remember the first trip from Butterworth to Penang on the barge in the dark and all the twinkling lights of little boats. I was so tired by that time it was like a dream.
My family lived on Penang Island at 7 Jalan Bungah Pudak, Hillside. We were quite near to the Penang Swimming Club (of course we were members) and used to take a shortcut through the jungle at the end of our street and down a "monnie" drain to get there on club and training nights.
My family was a large one (eight children), and probably quite unique in some odd way in that my dad was a mere LAC in transport, yet we were accommodated in "officers row" with two amahs and a gardener because of the number of children we had. Our house was a four bedroom semi-detached with views of the ocean from the upstairs verandah. It had beautiful cool tiles on all the floors and bars on all the windows and doors.
My mother taught ballet for a couple of years at the school on Saturday mornings in the under cover area where we had assemblies.
We owned a monkey "Kichi" who lived in the frangipani tree in the front yard. She was such fun, but took a savage dislike to one of my younger brothers. Every time she saw him she would chase after him - as far as her lead would allow - and pull his pants down and bite his rear end! It was very amusing for us and the neighbourhood kids (all except my brother). We also had a mongrel dog called Tiger. He was as ugly a mutt as could be imagined but we loved him and took him everywhere with us. We particularly enjoyed our regular jaunts through the jungle and visiting the local mukan cart.
Like many others, I remember also the powdered milk we were made to drink (now I think of it though - wasn't it strange we drank powdered milk at home, yet were provided with beautiful cool flavoured milk for morning tea at school), the weekly malaria tablets, climbing Scout Rock, riding our bikes through the local Kampong and being chased by the ever protective resident geese.
I loved going to the RAAF school. It was so different to any other school I had, or have, been to. I loved the little white uniform with white socks and shoes. I remember being scared to death of Mr Emerton at the beginning of grade 5, but he ended up being one of my most admired teachers. I remember being in love with Gordon Hains (I think every girl in my grade was) just about the whole time we were there and having Joanne Challender and Susan Reedy as friends.
But I think my fond memories of life in Penang extend far beyond the school .... it was more the way of life offered to us as members of the RAAF community in that wonderful place.
I only found out about this website recently by chance from a lady who my family was staying with in Tasmania. It turned out, she also went to the RAAF school, only ten years before me and my siblings. What a coincidence :)
If there is anyone who remembers me or my siblings, (Rodney, Crystal, Francine, Mark, Shari, Scott, Craig) or was in my grades, I'd be keen to hear from you.