Greg Newlyn
1958 - 1960 Grades 4-6
Email: greg.newlyn@internode.on.net
I recall a short posting to Amberley, with my father, where Base Squadron Butterworth was formed on 15 January 1958 before it commenced duties at Butterworth on 1 May 1958.
Mid year it was aboard a Qantas Lockheed Super G Constellation from Sydney to Butterworth with a late night fuelling stop at Darwin where the tropical heat hit us even at that late hour. We were the second aircraft of dependants to make the journey and my father was the only adult male, apart from the crew, on the aircraft.
Arriving to a bright sunshine and glary tarmac at Butterworth, we were soon whisked to the RAAF Hostel while housing was arranged. Initially it was a reasonably new small semi-detached place in Circular Drive (it now has a lot longer Bahasa name), Fettes Park, which we took over from an RAF family. We soon moved to 7a Tanjong Tokong Road, an old but comfortable mansion (in those days) on the beach just on the Georgetown side of the Hostel.
I recall staring school at Butterworth in a one room school near the NAAFI store and swimming pool taught by an English teacher who was assisted by his wife. As the number of school age children increased, we moved to the leased mansion (previously the Governor's residence?) in Residency Road where we were taught by the wives of some of the RAAF and Army men. Later in 1958 teachers from Victoria and New South Wales arrived to teach us and by the time we left in November 1960, the school had expanded to three co-located mansions. Apart from my parents, there was a younger sister, Jacqui, and brother, Bruce, who were too young to attend school.
There must have been a big change over of personnel that Christmas as I recall the ship, Johan Van Oldenbarneveldt (JVO), seemed to be full us returning from our adventure. Soon we were back at Amberley and settling into the routine life in an Australian school and environment.
Although I may nave been younger than many of those writing entries for student updates with their anecdotes of adventures in an exotic land, and, in the early days we may not have had the facilities and amenities that were to come later, it was a great adventure. I do recall starting the Cubs and my mother being one of the original leaders. Exploring the Kampongs, having kite fights, making spinning tops with the local kids and experiencing another culture changed most of us forever and we are better for it.
I joined the RAAF in 1969 and was lucky enough to return to Butterworth between 1972 and 1975 when I lived at Jalan Haji Rifae, Hillside. Penang was exactly as I recalled it when I left in 1960. However, during this posting Penang started to change with the arrival of package tours from Australia and Germany in particular. I recall the Rasa Sayang and Golden Sands replacing the older structures at Batu Ferringhi during this period.
I returned in 2005 for the school reunion was surprised to see all the condos etc but that is progress. However, I do recall my time there with fondness and still have a great affection for Malaysia.
Names I remember from my school days include: Des Radcliffe, Mousy Duncan, Bruce Hart, Sue Stratford, and Michael Campbell. I think Miss Bamberger and Mr McLaughlin were two of my teachers.
I am now semi retired and live in Canberra.