THE PIONEER CLUB

Four cub journalists from IN, a publication of The Straits Times for secondary school students, tell the stories of pioneers whom they know personally, while an ST reader in his 60s writes about his own experience.

Eloise Lim, 14, from Temasek Junior College, talks about her grandfather Lim Eng Fatt, 83, who was born in Port Dickson, Malaysia. Also in the photograph is her grandmother Lee Huay Siew, 84.

Grandpa stopped schooling at age 12 because of the Japanese Occupation. Other than growing tapioca to feed the family, he also dried sea water on zinc sheets to make salt for extra income.

His story motivated me to treasure what I have now in this peaceful country where we do not need to live in fear and fight for basic necessities. Grandpa constantly reminds me not to take abundant food and education for granted.

After the Occupation, he moved to Singapore to study in Catholic High and then in Hwa Chong. Soon after he completed his schooling, he had to return to Malaysia to sell fish and vegetables in the market. He had to work to help pay for the education of his 12 siblings, who took turns to be educated in Singapore.

In 1951, he migrated to Singapore to work as a teacher at a primary school in Paya Lebar. His pay was $160. He then transferred to another school where he was paid $5 more. However, the school often did not pay him.

He then found a job as a Chinese teacher in Raffles Institution. At that time, corporal punishment was allowed. He caned students on the palm if they did not write the date on their assignments. I’m lucky I was not born in that generation.

One day, he woke up late for school. In a rush, he wore slippers. Teachers had to wear covered shoes. He was quick-witted enough to tear his handkerchief into half to wrap one foot. He then pretended one of his feet was injured.

In 1976, Grandpa was offered a three-year contract to be a Chinese teacher on Christmas Island. During his free time, he worked as a Chinese radio broadcaster.

Listening to the radio was the only source of entertainment as the island was remote and unable to receive TV signals from Australia. He translated the news from English to Chinese, and broadcasted it in Mandarin.

Grandpa was a great multi-tasker. He grew vegetables in his backyard and reared chickens to sell to islanders.

Grandma, a teacher in Yock Eng High (now Yuying Secondary) in Singapore then, often visited him. She had to sail for three days, two nights.

During a visit in 1978, there were enormous waves and the liner could not dock. Grandma was stuck on the island but was fortunately offered a job as a relief teacher for a month. Finally, a chartered plane arrived and she flew back.

In December, millions of red crabs infest the island. Grandma said that once, the crabs crawled into the bedroom. She was shocked when she woke up.

Grandpa’s favourite pastime was to fish on a cliff overlooking the sea. He once caught a swordfish as heavy as an adult human being.

He  also worked as a provision shop owner, a factory canteen operator, a remisier and finally, a Chinese tuition teacher.

I look forward to every gathering in my grandparents’ place. Grandpa cooks delicious chilli crabs that go well with his signature dish – fried rice.