RBJTimban’s Crib

1963 – Came into being (that was exactly March the 20th) – me being mum’s and dad’s first child.

1964 – My brother, Chester, was born in September – another boy for Dad and Mum

1966 – Juliana, my second sibling was born in July – a girl for dad and mum. She was very fair and lovely. Relatives and friends who visited mum during her confinement Juliana was the fairest of her kids

1967 – Entered Nanyang Kindergarten, Green Rd., Kuching;

- Was only 5 years old then. Dad wanted me to stand on my own feet as early as possible. Commuted to the kindy in dad’s friend’s car. The following year, Chester joined me in the same kindy. He was also 5 years old when he entered the kindy. Guess mum and the house maid did not like Chester (and me) around because of our ‘notoriority’.

1969 – Entered Primary 1 @ Ong Tiang Swee Rd Council School (OTSRCSchool), Kuching

1972 – Primary 4 (OTSCSchool); Dad retired. The whole family moved to Betong, Sarawak.

- Suzie, my third sibling, a girl was born sometimes in November. Dad was very glad to have 2 boys and 2 girls.

1973 – Entered Primary 5 at St. Augustine’s Primary (SAP) School, Betong Sarawak; Sat for the Common Entrant Exam. My brother, Chester, and I did not take it long to make new friends. It could have been our mini-bikes that helped us making new friends. My uncle, Duda Garai was the first person I met. There were many others like Stephen Bain Utot (Duda’s cousin), Norina Umoi Utot, Lajang Renang, Guntor Renang, Edward Langgi Kadam, Christina Dayang Kadam (my paternal cousins, who were younger siblings to Stanley Bye Kadam Kiai), Francis Empam Stop, Hardy Benedict, Nicholas Ajan Sanggat, Benedict Blake Sanggat, Sylva de Mathew “Ding”, Philip Nyaru “Awi” and many, many more.

1974 – Primary 6 at SAP. Before my 12th birthday, dad took me to Jabatan Pendaftaran Negara (National Registration Dept) to apply for an identity card. (a few months later, the dept issued me my first blue IC with the number K0004233)

1975 – Entered Form 1 @ St. Augustine’s Secondary School, Betong. The principal was Mr KVVarghese, an Indian expatriate who had been serving in Betong and (perhaps) other places in Sarawak for sometimes. Some of my class and schoolmates were Joseph Kuan, Edmund Rintai, Santha Nair, Lenu, Margaret Montegrai, Marjorie Dunggat, Florence Brown, Wilson Lubon, Tendy Nyua, Billy Nyua, Dawie Nyua, Stanley “Igat” Jana Boniface, Mathew Nuing, Alexander Nuing, James Nuing, Andrew Nuing, and many more.

1977 – Form 3; Sat for the Lower Certificate of Ed (LCE) examination. Managed to secure a good pass.

1978 – Entered Form 4Sc at Kuching Town Govt Secondary School, Kuching; Commuting from aunt Kelang’s home in Tabuan Dayak, Kuching.

1980 – Form 5Sc; Sat for the Malaysian Certificate of Ed (MCE) exam;

1981 – Idle, until 20th March, was called to serve as an untrained temporary teacher at Sekolah Rendah Bantuan St. Simon & St. Jude, Betong. Initially did not want to go, but I took my dad’s challenge and encouragement. One of the words he uttered to me was, “Boy, go to work. Your mum and I are getting older. (He was 63 years old then). I was so touched by what he said, so the following day, I hesitantly made my way to the school. The road up the Layar then was not as good as today. On certain stretches we had to go on foot for an hour or so before reaching the school.

The MCE result was not announced yet. I took pride to look for other jobs because teaching was not my first choice. I went for interviews at the Medical dept, Land & Surveys dept, Agriculture dept and even banks. That year none of these institutions had favour me. But I did not blame them. It was my fate, perhaps. “I’ll try harder, next time’, I thought.

Unfortunately, on 7th July that year, my aging dad passed away. I felt a great loss. I have lost my one and only dad – my angel. He did not even have the chance to see me get paid for being a teacher. His words, “Boy, go to work… ” still linger in my mind up to this date. His funeral ended on the 9th July and on the 10th July we buried him at St. Augustine’s cemetery. I could remember that before the cortège left the present house, my unc, Major (R) Edmund Abit Bedindang, fired two gun shots into the air to mark the departure of dad’s cortège.

My siblings and I were confused. We still could not accept the fact that our dad died when all of us were still young. My youngest sister, Suzie, was only 10 years old then. Mum was confused too. She needed a lot of guidance in dealing with my late dad’s pension. But we were blessed with many friends and relatives. Our late uncle Wilson, a serving police personnel then, helped us a lot to deal with inheriting dad’s pension.