Souvenir Books at the Convent Fun Run

 

After months of anticipation, our Souvenir Books to commemorate the 100-YearAnniversary of the Holy Infant Jesus Convent in Johor Bahru were ready and available for in-person purchases and self-collection (for those who had pre-ordered) at the Convent Fun Run on August 23.

 

Participants getting ready for Warm-Up session
on the front lawn of IJ Convent Johor Bahru

For this event, the front compound of the IJ Convent Johor Bahru was transformed into a carnival ground where there was a main stage in the front lawn with stalls set up in the Primary and Secondary school carparks.

 

At the crack of dawn, while participants streamed in and prepared themselves for the Fun Run, our Book Team joined other teams who were tasked with setting up stalls to promote anniversary event merchandise as well as food and beverage.

 

The skies were overcast and cloudy but even when a passing shower happened, it did not dampen the spirits of the participants gathered in the front lawn, eagerly awaiting the warm-up session before the start of the Fun Run.

 

Fun Run participants starting off on the run
 

The participants were made up of IJ Convent Johor Bahru students, both past and present, and the public along with friends and relatives, who came along to support them and enjoy the Carnival that morning.

 

Among the participants were 2o colleagues from Berinda Properties, led by CEO, Maggie Ng, whose connection to the school runs deep as she is a proud alumna of IJ Convent Seremban, a school which (sadly!) was demolished to give way for development.

 

Participants on the Fun Run 

With a slight delay in the schedule, it was around 7.20am when participants were invited to join in the Warm-Up exercises and receive a Safety Briefing before the Flag-off for the participants in the 5km run, followed by those in the 3km run.

 

And then they were off!

 

From the front gates of IJ Convent Johor Bahru and all along to route, there were marshals to guide as well as medical teams on hand to help with any emergencies.

 

One was collecting pre-ordered 
books from our Book stall

While two hours were the estimated time for the Fun Run, some participants exceeded expectations and completed the route in shorter times. On their return to the Starting point, they were rewarded with Finisher medals, a precious memento of the event.

 

As more and more participants arrived – exhausted but happy – they received their medals and found comfortable spots in the front lawn to rest and relax, and await the next item on the morning’s agenda.

 

For the first time in 100 years, the front steps that led up to the iconic marble statute of Our Lady, was dotted with tired participants (identified by their event T-shirts) of the Convent Fun Run, an exciting event to commemorate the 100-Year Anniversary of the IJ Convent Johor Bahru.

 

Fun Run participants resting here

When all the participants had safely returned from the Fun Run, our attention was turned to the main stage.

 

Secondary school principal, Puan Chan Wei May, accompanied the Guest-of-Honour of the Fun Run, Director of Johor State Education Department, Tuan Haji Mohd Hanafi Samad, who – in his speech – officially declared the event open.

 

It was good to meet Tuan Haji Hanafi again as we last met at an event in December 2023 while he was then the Deputy Director.

 

It was interesting that we first met in 2018 when I was in SMK Dato Jaafar, JohorBahru, for a Book Talk event while he was the then principal. He is familiar with My Johor Stories as he was an ardent reader of my stories stored in my blog that were first published in Johor Streets, a pull-out section of The New Straits Times.

 

A gimmick to declare the event open

Then the space in front of the main stage was cleared for 100 students of IJ Convent Johor Bahru – dressed in the four colours of their Houses: Red, Blue, Green and Yellow – who presented a cheering performance. This was followed by a Lucky Draw for participants to win prizes.

 

Throughout this time, members of our Book Team were busy with selling the 100-Year Anniversary Souvenir Book and meeting those who came to self-collect their preordered books.

 

Cheering performance by
100 IJ Convent Johor Bahru students

While the Guest-of-Honour was escorted by the Secondary and Primary school principals to visit the various stalls, participants of the Fun Run (identified by their flushed faces!) also browsed around the stalls and came over to look at our Books.

 

I was close enough to overhear the question – a number of times – asking if they were featured in the book as they flipped the pages, seeking to spot themselves inside.

 

Tuan Haji Hanafi taking a closer look at
our 100-Year Anniversary Souvenir Book

While this proved that, People liked to read/see themselves published in print, they must know that it was virtually impossible to document every significant milestone, student or achievement of the school over the past 100 years, in one publication.

 

On the other hand, it was very encouraging to hear positive comments about our Souvenir Book which was compiled and produced in a very short space of time.

 

We turned, distracted by a small buzz nearby and when we spotted Tuan Haji Hanafi and an entourage visiting that stall, we anticipated his arrival at our Book stall.

 

As we welcomed him to have a look at our Souvenir Book, I was pleased to show Tuan Haji Hanafi the Table of Contents and let him know that I was part of the Book Team who produced this Limited Edition Book.

 

Tuan Haji Hanafi with the Book Team, Benedict
Francis and the principals of IJ Convent
Primary and Secondary schools

Benedict Francis, Chair for SMK IJ Convent Johor Bahru, was pleased to present Tuan Haji Hanafi with a copy of our Souvenir Book, on behalf of the Convent Association of Past Pupils (CAPP).

 

As the event came to a close, some of the stall-holders went around with trays of their food items to sell to other stall-holders who were not able to step away from their stalls to buy any food.

 

Our Book stall stayed open throughout the morning for those who preordered to collect their books. The next opportunity to collect preordered books will be at the celebration dinner planned for August 30.

 

Participants resting on the front lawn

The Convent Fun Run and Carnival was a resounding success and it was much later in the day that I read this encouraging comment posted in the Facebook page for Convent Johor Bahru 100^th Year Celebration from an alumna who said,

 

“Thank God. In spite of the cold, misty morning with slight showers in the early morning, it did not stop me from getting a copy of the 100-Year Anniversary Souvenir Book.

 

Nice glossy pages…with nice photos of yesteryears…to bring you down Memory Lane and nice recaps from alumni of their lovely memories of school days, snippets of school life and many more. Can’t wait to read more.

 

It’s not just a treasure to have and to hold but a pleasure to turn back the pages as you reminisce about somewhere that you once called school. I have got my copy. Have you?”

 

Book orders are still being accepted and if you are not able to collect the books on August 30, please send proof of payment by email to, write2jbconvent@gmail.com to discuss how your book/s may be delivered to your address.