The Old College General@Pulau Tikus Penang

Mesmerizing..the grounds of the old College General@Pulau Tikus

 The old College General in Pulau Tikus Penang was the first Seminary in the Malayan Diocese. I took these photos of the seminary, which must have been in the late 70’s, and realized we have a big Church.  I made up a group who attended the event to video (it was the thing at the time) the event.

We arrived late so it was a rush setting up. When I got to the place I was mesmerized with the place. It was large and imposing and had these large trees on the grounds.

The event was the Silver Jubilee though I don’t remember what it was in commemoration of . Apparently the whole clergy of the Penang Diocese was present. A section of the garden was decked out in white by the clergy. I recognised Bishop Soter Fernandez who was the main celebrant and was that also Fr Ken Williams.  

Bishop Soter Fernandez was the main celebrant ....

Congregation (right) and the clergy 

... the whole of Penang Diocese was present ....

Amongst the non-clergy crowd was a distinguished looking elderly gentleman in a uniform that clearly wasn’t  military. Thirty years later, I discovered that it was a uniform of a Papal Knight and the person donning the suit was the late Dato James Francis Augustine.

Standing at extreme right was Papal Knight Dato James Francis Augustine

( About Augustine …for his services to the Catholic Church in Malaysia .. earned him the Bene Merenti Medal in 1953 and a Papal knighthood in 1959 when he was made Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Sylvester. Papal Knight’s are appointed by the Pope.)

I recently took it out from my album (yes these were prints). It was faded and the glue from the album had penetrated into the prints forming orange smears. Thanks for digital repairing for it made look presentable. One more sharing to reflect on the heritage of the Catholic Church in the country.

JAG

"Chinese Are Enterprising and Hardworking" ....Tun Mahathir 2023

I somtimes see this old Chinese woman on my morning rounds.She scavenges for recyclabes. Today she had an enormous load for the recycle shop. It reminded me of what our old Mahathir said of the Chinese recently. ...irrespective of their age......

Breakfast@Restoran Habib, Canning Garden

Old shop serving roti canai at breakfast. Soldiers from nearby camps getting their breakfast 

 One of the oldest mamak stalls that serves real good roti canai is undoubtedly Restoran Habib at Canning Garden. Its been run by two brothers Syed and Abu (don’t take my photo please) for decades. Probably was handed down by their parents.

This place is popular during breakfast because a couple sells nasi lemak and bihun but only at breakfast till it’s finished usually by 10am. This couple too has been selling here for over 20 years.  

This couple has been selling nasi lemak & bihun for 20+ years 

Old shop, regular customers ....

At this time the crowd can be seen queueing and waiting for their meals mostly takeaways. One thing about Habib is it is an old shop and with regular customers such as the soldiers from the nearby camps and old residents with their grandchildren patronizing the place.  

After 10am the place is less busy and the brothers prepare for lunch. I like this place, quiet, peaceful and where you can a get a genuine roti.  

JAG

Evert Van Breukelen’s Last Farewell And The End Of A Racing Family

Security guards at the Perak Turf Club salute Evert Van Breukelen as his hearse drives by the PTC

It was the last journey for Dutch-Malaysian horse trainer Evert van Breukelen as the van carried him on his final farewell the management and staff of the Perak Turf Club (PTC) staged a fitting farewell for him.

The management and staff, trainers, syces and security of the Perak Turf Club 

2nd from left are trainers Peter Lee and V. Sivan followed by Chairman of PTC Dato John Lim Ewe Chuan. 2nd from right is GM Mr Lai Hah Wan.

Standing in a straight line at the verandah the management, staff, fellow trainers and syces bowed and saluted him as his cortege passed by and proceeded to the stables the family had occupied for over 70 years.

Evert's request - to drive by the family stables one last time

The funeral mass was said earlier at the OMPH Church. It was a solemn affair and the mass was said in BM by Fr Patrick Massang and Fr Robin Lomangkok before proceeding to PTC.

It was a very solemn funeral mass 

Evert was the last Van Breukelen that has used the stables at the Perak Turf Club for training their horses. The family first started with the PTC when granduncle Marinus Van Breukelen first came though it wasn’t confirmed if he came before or after the war.

Later he brought his two nephews Rinus and Eddie to join him. Eddie had three sons Hans, Pieter and Evert who were all trainers. 

The Van Breukelen's. L/r: Pieter, Evert, dad Eddie Van Breukelen and Hans

Pieter and Evert at their stables celebrating Everts win circa 2010

Evert won the Rm1mil Yang di-Pertua Negeri Gold Cup, Penang 2009

Pieter took over the stable from his father and in 2005 Evert was handed the stable from Pieter. Since that time Evert has saddled 350 winners in 18 years. On the last weekend before he died Evert  scored a double win with Tilsworth Mali and Trinity Honor.

Perak Turf Club GM Lai Hah Wan said that Evert was a survivor. Horse racing in this day and age is a tough business. However Evert has toughed up to it and stayed in the game because he came from a racing family and had a passion for racing.

He was a fixture in the club and although he had physical mobility issues he treated people well and was generally well liked and was called the “Gentle Giant’.

In his later years Evert was very much a family man who enjoyed tending to his small garden after his workday. His birthday was due in September and his twin sister Manja, who lives in the US, had made plans to spend two months with him and the family come this August.

Left. Evert with his twin sister Manja. (R) The family man. Carl, Evert, Sonia and Margret.

But alas with the passing of Evert all has come to an abrupt end without any warning leaving his wife Margaret and family and the end of a Racing Family.   

Goodbye my friend. Gone forever but never to be forgotten.

JAG