SIBU, Oct 30: In yet another show of solidarity and gratitude to their alma mater, former students of Sacred Heart Secondary School, pooled their resources and raised an impressive RM122,928.88 for the replacement of the school hall’s public address system.
Installed about 20 years ago, the aging system was prone to breaking down during school events.
With the school scheduled to celebrate its 120th anniversary next year, former students also known as Sacred Heart School Old Students Association (SHOSA) knights, kicked into high gear and raised the amount in less than a month.
Yong King Sung, president of SHOSA, in his thank you note to the knights said the school was blessed to have former students who remained close to their alma mater.
“And they have never failed to rise again and again, over the years, in the name of Sacred Heart School,” he said.
Paying tribute to the pack leaders who lead their respective batch years, Yong said he understood the challenges they had to go through to raise the sum.
“It’s never easy. We know how troublesome it is to keep track of the money coming in from so many different people. Combined with the high standards of transparency and accountability practised by SHOSA, we know it is not a light burden for you to shoulder,” he said.
Thanking them for persevering, the president said their effort went a long way in giving the school a much-needed boost.
Former president of SHOSA, Senator Robert Lau who hosted the handing over ceremony at his residence, said Sacred Heart knights were renowned for their valour and passion for the school.
“In my eight years as SHOSA president from 2008 to 2015, and my decades-long association with the school board, we have seen how former students responded positively, every time, to the School’s call for help,” he said,
Saying that it was an honour to serve the school, Lau who continues to serve on the school’s management board, called on the younger generation of former students to join the knights in their mission.
“I am glad to see many of the former students from the ’90s and the new millennium signing up as knights of SHOSA. This will augur well for the school’s future development,” he said.
Calling it a brotherhood that money cannot buy, Lau said he remained forever grateful to his parents for sending him to Sacred Heart Secondary School. “This was where I spent some of the best years of my life and gained a world class foundation in education and life,” he said.
The 21 different class years that contributed to the effort were from the class of ’73, ’74, ’77, ’78, ’79 and those from the entire 80’s decade (‘80-‘89) with the younger classes from ’90, ’92, ’93, ’99, 2002 and 2004.
SHOSA with the guidance of former students who are known audiophiles is calling for interested parties to submit tenders for the job of replacing the sound system.
A portion of the amount raised would be channeled towards the School fund for the 120th-anniversary celebrations. Sacred Heart School was established in 1902 by the Mill Hill Brothers. In later years De La Salle Brothers took over the management of the school.
Also present to witness the event were vice chairman of the school’s board Lau Swee Nguong and David Teo and Clement Chieng, respective school principals for Sacred Heart and St. Elizabeth. – DayakDaily
