Thanks for the gift of a comma

 

Readers of My Johor Stories are aware that I have been away from Johor as I have not been posting pieces on Johor for a while. Instead, I shared a series of stories in my Travelogue that took readers on a virtual trip with me in and around Sydney, Australia.

 

This time away to me, was the comma, a long-awaited pause in my sentence. A gift presented to me by my siblings, for me to have a change in my daily routine.

 

[The comma is a punctuation mark used to separate parts of a sentence to clarify meaning and adds a pause or ‘breathing space’ to make a complex sentence more readable.]

 

This time-out was a timely break from my regular routine of work and family commitments. Just time away to do something different. After all, I did have a very eventful 2025, and that January 2026 marked exactly 10 years since dad left us.

 

Time away has let me take stock of the past five years where I completed a total of six book projects, leading Heritage Walks, giving talks and promoting My Johor Stories in my pop-up book stores while juggling family and domestic responsibilities.

 

There were three books in the trilogy of My Johor Stories where the first book went to the Number One spot in the MPH Non-Fiction Bestsellers list in the first week of its launch and was counted among the Best of MPH at the end of 2017.

 

Following the success of My Johor Stories: True Tales, Real People, Rich Heritage, I worked on its sequel, My Johor Stories 2: Interesting Places and Inspirational People, published in 2018.

 

Then came the global pandemic which delayed the publication of the third and final instalment of My Johor Stories. With the support of MPH Publishing Kuala Lumpur, My Johor Stories 3: Proudly Johor, Then and Now, was finally published in 2022.

 

I am grateful for the support of hotels and resorts who bought My Johor Stories books and placed them in their better rooms, suites and villas for guests’ reading pleasure.

 

It was a wonderful way for guests to read about Johor and then go out to explore more of Johor. And it was through reading my book in a resort that started me on my next book project.

 

Soon as the borders were reopened and people were able to travel again after the pandemic, families took the opportunity to spend time at resorts in Johor’s beautiful Desaru Coast.

 

While relaxing in a resort in Desaru Coast, a member of the Tan family read My Johor Stories, and recognized names of people documented in my book. They were the same as what her father, a retired lawyer in Johor Bahru, wrote in his memoirs.

 

After his retirement, he moved to Singapore and was encouraged to write about his most memorable court cases. His daughter, who read my book then had the idea to document her father’s story along with his memoirs in a book as a tribute to him for the benefit of his family and grandchildren. And she reached out to me.

 

This, I was later told, was because his oncologist said that he did not have much time left. This info was the impetus which compelled me to work with the Tan family to write this tribute book without any delay.

 

I did not meet the members of the Tan family but only communicated by email and WhatsApp to exchange information, documents and photographs as we worked on this book project with a sense of urgency.

 

In addition to compiling, writing and proofreading, I also connected them with the printer to help with the printing of this book for private distribution within their family.

 

It was good to finally meet the Tan family members when they came to collect the books, as I already got to know them from their names and writing about this family.

 

We were sad that her father did not live to see the book titled, Tan Kiah Teck – A Kampung Boy’s Search for Truth and Justice. It meant a great deal to this family to have his words documented for future generations to hear his voice through this book.

 

In a Tan family gathering on Christmas eve 2023, this book was presented to family members and a copy was placed in the niche where his remains were interred.

 

Then in March 2024, I received a query about how to get a copy of a book that documented the life and ministry of Colleen Redit, a missionary in India whose ministry in Madras (now Chennai) India, started with rescuing women and children.

 

Over the years, the scope of her mission work expanded and I had the privilege to document her life story and work in a book, titled, Realising a Vision through Faith: The Autobiography of Colleen M. Redit, published in 2013. [This book was distributed among the churches and now available online through amazon.com]

 

As I was reminded about this – which was in fact, my very first book project – I decided to put into action, the plan to compile and document the story of our own assembly and its work in Johor Bahru, that was planted more than 50 years ago.

 

Cockatoos that come to rest on trees
close to the balcony at Concord, Sydney NSW

From reading through old record books in chronological order, I was able to get a sense of the work of the assembly since the early years and I took time to list out the names of the guest speakers, invited to share in the pulpit ministry.

 

Over the next few months, the manuscript was slowly stitched together, the cover design completed and the book given a title, Milestones on our Journey in Faith – Johor Bahru Gospel Chapel. By the end of June 2025, this book was ready for distribution among assembly members, both past and present.

 

Meanwhile back in 2024, there was talk about the Centennial Celebrations of our alma mater, the Johor Bahru Convent – the only Convent School in this city – planned for August 2025. Among the ideas proposed for the year-long celebration were a fund-raising dinner, a Convent Fun Run, Centenary Celebration T-shirts and the publication of a 100-Year Anniversary Souvenir Book.

 

Spotted My Johor Stories books in the book
case in Malcolm's house; Book One is missing
because it was a Bestseller and already sold-out!

I was invited to join online meetings with the Fund-Raising Committee to learn more about their proposed plans and ideas where all proceeds will be channeled to the school fund for building maintenance projects.

 

I saw the urgent need to work on this book project for the school, especially with the fund-raising activities in view and the desperately limited time ahead. And if this book should be ready for the Fun Run and dinner celebration in August, we had to start on the project like – yesterday!

 

Working with a small but dynamic Book Team, we met regularly online and through our discussions, agreed to keep production costs low and create a book that will celebrate the school’s work over the decades through the successes and achievement of the alumni.

 

On the way to Burwood, 
Sydney NSW

The Team worked in tandem to carry out various tasks and because this Souvenir Book will be sold to alumni and distributed widely, we also applied for the International Standard Book Number (ISBN) and got it approved for the book.

 

Keeping to strict deadlines and working closely with the printer, this Book Team managed to get the books ready for the Fun Run, held a week ahead of the dinner celebration at end August 2025.

 

The work was not over yet as the Team coordinated the sale and distribution of these Limited Edition books to alumni who preordered and required delivery by courier to destinations locally and abroad.

 

Dinner with Uncle, Auntie, Gillian,
Michael, Malcolm and Yeen at 
La Cocina Spanish Restaurant
Crows Nest, Sydney NSW

So here I am, having completed six book projects in the past five years. It was a great deal of work but it was worth the effort.

 

I am pleased with how these books have benefited others and even today, I am delighted to receive an email with a query, asking me where he can get My Johor Stories books! [From MPH bookstores nationwide or online from mphonline]

 

I was more than due for a pleasant change, a comma in my sentence, in a different place, with another arm of our widespread family located around the globe.

 

“Good to see you on this side of the world,” said Eva. “I hope you had a fabulous time,” she added. I replied, “Yes, I did, thank you.”

 

I did so with the help of cousin Malcolm, my very able tour guide, who gave me various experiences at different destinations in and around Sydney.

 

Gelato treat after dinner together;
Crows Nest, Sydney NSW

I was pleased to share my experiences documented in a Travelogue (for me to recall and reminisce!) and by reading it, I took my readers who included relatives and friends, on a virtual tour.

 

One of the comments I received from a school friend went like this: “Such interesting experiences, Peggy! Can I engage Malcolm and Auntie Polly to be my guides if ever I go down to Sydney?”

 

Another friend who visits Sydney regularly said: “It is good you can share all these experiences and places with me. There are still many places I have not been to in Australia.”

 

Yet another said: “Thanks for your stories filled with so much fun and excitement. Above all, precious time with your cousins, Auntie Polly and Uncle Steven… Am sure you will bring back with you, treasured and enriching memories!”

 

Dinner with Malcolm, Yeen and family
at Delhi Palace, Strathfield, Sydney NSW

Indeed! My stay happened to coincide with the Chinese New Year season so it was a different experience for me where family still gathered for feasting but with the (thankfully!) absence of “bombing” explosions from firecrackers and fireworks.

 

I am deeply grateful and blessed by the generous hospitality of my hosts, Malcolm and Yeen, who let me share their home and to Gillian and Michael for my glamping stay with them at Dee Why. Words alone cannot express how much I appreciate it.

 

In addition to Auntie Polly and Uncle Steven who shared with me exciting experiences in Dee Why and nearby Collaroy, I also had the pleasure to explore country towns with Alex and Dex, and had the company of Ben who escorted me around Cockatoo Island and in climbing The Rocks. Whew!

 

So Thank You all, for this precious gift of a comma, a breathing space, before I continue writing my sentence.

 

#MyJohorStoriesTravelogue

#MyJohorStoriesFebruary2026

Stories of military service and sacrifice

 

We arrived at the entrance of the Australian War Memorial just as a group of teenagers converged ahead of us so we inched our way in to have our bags tagged.

 

View of the Commemorative Area from the
entrance to Hall of Memory; The names of 
nations, including Malaya, are on the walls

I was pleased to see teenagers, young people and school children in the gallery, mostly on a guided group tour for them to gain better insights from their visit.

 

Such a visit to a national war memorial or museum dedicated to those who have died as a result of war, will be a valuable experience when people learn to appreciate the military for their service and sacrifice.

 

For generations who have never experienced the hardship of wars, it is essential for them to look back and learn from history – whether good or bad – so that they can build a better tomorrow for themselves and future generations.

 

Quotation in the lobby of
the Australian War Memorial

On a White wall in the main lobby, I saw a quote by Sergeant Adam Bryan, Royal Australian Air Force Middle East who said, “Lives have been lost, and family members have made sacrifices… It’s a continuing timeline, and it’s important that these stories are told.”  

 

As I explored the galleries in the Australian War Memorial and saw the collection of exhibits for the First World War, Second World War, Cold War, Korean War, the Malayan Emergency, the Indonesian Confrontation among others, a lump started to form in my throat.

 

The galleries are well curated and designed for visitors to have an immersive sound and light experience, complete with low lighting, soundscapes in military schemes along with voices, music and battle noises.

 

While I may not have been through any war, I have heard first-hand experiences and horror stories of the Second World War from our grandmother and my dad who survived the Japanese invasion and occupation.

 

School children on an educational visit in
the Australian War Memorial

My dad was a Nursing Orderly with the Royal Army Medical Corps whose campaign and service abroad covered, “Johore and Singapore.” [Johore is the old spelling for Johor, the southern-most state in peninsula Malaysia, linked to Singapore by a causeway.]

 

Dad’s duties as a medical first responder, was to rescue the injured and provide first-aid before sending them to the hospital. He probably also carried the wounded on stretchers before and after dressing their wounds and sending them to safety.

 

I read from his Discharge Certificate that dad was discharged from his duties from 29 January 1947. In recognition of his service in the War of 1939 to 1945, dad was awarded three medals: The 1939/1945 Star, the Pacific Star and the War Medal.

 

Seen at the exhibit on Stretcher-Bearers

My dad’s medals may pale in comparison to the grand medals displayed in the Hall of Valour gallery but when I looked at those shiny medals, the lump in my throat threatened to choke me. As I walked through the galleries, I realized that I was breathing with my mouth, blowing out puffs of breath to avert tears.

 

At the exhibit on Stretcher-Bearers, I was drawn to read the small White plaque which read (in part) like this:

 

“…stretcher-bearers worked tirelessly to perform first-aid and carry the wounded to aid posts and dressing stations. As non-combatants, the stretcher-bearers from the Australian Army Medical Corps were not armed, but just like any other soldier they faced the dangers of the front line.”

 

Sculpture of a Water Carrier

In another gallery, there was a bronze sculpture by Wallace Anderson (1888 – 1975) of a Water Carrier who was carrying three two-gallon petrol tins of precious water to his comrades. The information plaque explained that:

 

“Water, even more than other essentials, was key to life at Anzac, and for most of the campaign, every drop had to carried to the front lines from reservoirs and wells near the coast.”

 

These brief descriptions echoed what my dad told me about his work in the field and increased my respect for the service and sacrifice of the military, even the non-combatant soldiers.

 

Then a familiar outline of a map I recognized as Johor in then Malaya made me pause to study the names of towns like Muar, Bakri, Batu Pahat and Yong Peng that included my hometown, Johor Bahru. The name for Parit Sulong was in Red bold print, so I had to read the accompanying plaque:

 

Map of Johor in the Australian War Memorial

“Charles Anderson (1897 – 1988) was born in South Africa and came to Australia in 1935. He had been awarded the Military Cross in the First World War. In 1940 he joined the Second AIF and was appointed to command the 2/19^th Battalion in Malaya.

 

During the Japanese advance, the battalion was sent to the Bakri area. Following the heavy casualties, Anderson took command of the brigade and led it in a fighting withdrawal toward Parit Sulong.

 

Cut off and surrounded, for four days he led attacks against roadblocks and enemy positions. Finally trapped and with no possible hope, Anderson ordered that everything be destroyed and survivors form groups to try to get south.

 

Once Singapore fell, Anderson became a prisoner-of-war and later worked on the notorious Burma-Thailand Railway. Afterwards he returned to farming. In 1949, he was elected to federal parliament where he served as the Country Party member for Hume.”

 

Gallery for the Malayan Emergency

Another gallery of interest featured the Malayan Emergency, also known as the Anti-British Liberation War (1948 – 1960).

 

This was a guerrilla war fought in Malaya between communist pro-independence fighters of the Malayan National Liberation Army and the military forces of the Federation of Malaya and Commonwealth (British Empire).

 

The communists fought to win independence for Malaya from the British Empire and to establish a communist state, while the Malayan Federation and Commonwealth forces fought to combat communism and protect British economic and colonial interests.

 

The term “Emergency” was used by the British to characterize the conflict in order to avoid referring to it as a war, because London-based insurers would not pay out in instances of civil wars.  [Credit Reference from: Wikipedia]

 

The Malayan Emergency struck a familiar chord because under the Briggs Plan (named after Harold Briggs), the British forcibly relocated a million civilians into concentration camps dubbed, “New Villages.”

 

The Kuching Stone

Over the years, many of these New Villages have evolved into residential areas so I wanted modern generations to understand the history and origin of the “New Villages.”

 

To do this, I documented a heritage story, “The Legacy of New Villages” in my book, My Johor Stories 3: Proudly Johor, Then and Now, the third and final instalment that completed the trilogy of My Johor Stories books. [MPH Publishing Kuala Lumpur, 2022.]

 

Another exhibit that caught my interest was the Kuching Stone. Inscriptions on the stone were in Chinese characters while the information plaque read like this:

 

“This stone commemorates the opening of the Kuching prisoner-of-war camp on 15 August 1942. The stone bears the name of the camp commander, Colonel Suga Tatisuji, and the command, “Be faithful.”

 

View of the Commemorative Area and the 
Eternal Flame to a backdrop of the 
Hall of Memory

About 3,000 prisoners were held in Kuching, in Sarawak (now Malaysia). They comprised civilian adults and children and military personnel from Australia, Britain, India and Holland.

 

The prisoners had about one cup of rice each, per day and whatever they could buy or steal. They were given no medicine. Many adults died from malnutrition and disease but remarkably, not one child died.

 

We can now regard this stone as a memorial to all who suffered at Kuching.”

 

Outdoors in the Commemorative Area, I read the names of Malaya and Singapore emblazoned on the walls along with the names of the nations in the allied forces and saw the eternal flame that burned to honour the memory of the fallen.

 

Inside the Tomb of the 
Unknown Soldier

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is located in the Hall of Memory, situated at one end of the Commemorative Area. This tomb represents all Australian war dead from World War One and subsequent conflicts. The inscription around the tomb reads:

 

“An unknown Australian soldier killed in the war of 1914 – 1918. Known unto God. He is all of them and he is one of us.”

 

At the opposite end of the Commemorative Area, from an elevated position, I saw the landscaped gardens and roads in the heart of Canberra that led directly to the Parliament House, situated on top of Capital Hill.

 

On our way out from the Commemorative Area, we walked on the upper corridor pass the Roll of Honour, an entire wall covered by bronze panels that listed over 103,000 Australian armed forces members who died in service.

 

Dubbed cloister walls, strings of red poppies decorated these walls where the blooms were placed next to the names in their memory.

 

It was encouraging to see groups of
students and young people being guided
 through the Australian War Memorial

The red poppy is a poignant symbol of remembrance for military personnel who died or suffered in war and conflict. It represents the memory of the fallen, the sacrifice of those who served and acts as a plea for peace.

 

This flower symbolises the blood-red poppies that bloomed across battle-scarred, war-torn European landscapes. In Australia and the Commonwealth, the poppy is worn on the left side, close to the heart on Remembrance Day (November 11).

 

The mood was contemplative as we made our way out of the War Memorial.

 

An experience in this destination certainly brought the reality of war and its consequences alive as I recalled our grandmother’s and my dad’s first-hand experience stories. I watched as more visitors arrived, many of them youths.

 

And I echo the sentiment that indeed, “There are no winners in war.”

 

#MyJohorStoriesTravelogue

#MyJohorStoriesFebruary2026

Fun in hilly country towns

 

A few days before the weekend, I was pleasantly surprised when Alexandria and Dexter invited me to visit his parents and go for a drive to visit country towns close to the Blue Mountains.

 

Alex and Dex invited me on a visit to Leura

Alex and Dex were fitting out their recently renovated house and were seeking suitable vintage items that will match with their home décor. They knew that I was keen on visiting country towns to browse in the small shops so they graciously invited me on this outing.

 

That morning, the drive to Blacktown was about 30km with a stretch on the motorway to reach his family home.

 

As we alighted from the car, we were enveloped by the aroma of fragrant spices from someone’s kitchen. When the front entrance opened and we were welcomed in by Letitia, Dex’s mother, it was confirmed that the aroma was coming from their kitchen.

 

Freshly cooked Lamb Biryani [Left]

Dex’s father, Anthony, came out to be introduced and quickly returned to the kitchen to put the final touches to the Lamb Biryani as he was the chief cook.

 

His reputation as a good cook preceded him because I was duly informed ahead of our visit. I was pleased when he announced, “Another 20 minutes.”

 

Yummy! This meant that we should have the privilege to savour his freshly cooked Lamb Biryani in a short while.

 

A serving of Lamb Biryani
to be topped with a dollop of yogurt

Meanwhile it was a pleasure to get acquainted with Letitia, fondly called Letty, as she shared about the culture and heritage of their family with its origins in Goa, India.

 

Alex and Dex had invited Letty to join us on the outing to the country towns so after enjoying an early lunch of Lamb Biryani, dotted with tender pieces of lamb, drizzled in yogurt, we set off on a drive into the hills.

 

After a brief discussion between Alex and Dex, they decided that we should go to Leura, a charming town in the Blue Mountains, located about 100km West of Sydney.

 

Charming old buildings in Leura

Dubbed, “The Garden Village” and the “Jewel in the Mountains Crown,” this destination is famous for its boutique shopping streets that offers a quieter, more scenic alternative to neighbouring Katoomba.

 

Even though Leura is located about 985 meters above sea level and the weather should be cooler, on that bright summer’s day of our visit, the temperature soared to above 40 sweltering degrees. Whew!

 

While it may only take a few minutes to walk from one end of the main street to the other, the scorching heat and the steep gradient combined to encourage visitors to pause at the ice-cream shop to get their icy treats.

 

Down the main street in Leura

From the number of crowds milling about, it was clear that such touristy mountain towns with shops for antiques, vintage and preloved items, are a magnet for visitors, especially on weekends.

 

I observed that visitors – many like us – escaped into the interior of the shops for a brief, cool respite from the heat outdoors. Whew!

 

As we browsed around, the merchants cannot help but noticed our sweaty (Read: wilting) looks. And one even welcomed me to move closer to the air-conditioner blower to cool down for a bit.

 

The Post Office shop in Katoomba

While we were in Leura, Alex and Dex decided that we should also visit nearby Katoomba, renowned as the most visited town in the Blue Mountains.

 

So Dex drove us to Katoomba where we explored the charming shops in search of some vintage treasure.

 

We followed the sign into the Katoomba Post Office building which housed an eclectic array of vintage collectibles and memorabilia.

 

A sign seen inside the
Wayzgoose Cafe in Leura

Outside, a poster reminded visitors to look out for the Vintage Post Mistress. And there she was, seated behind one of the counters, all dressed up, accessorized and wigged in 50’s vintage glamour.

 

She probably took pity on my wilted looks and invited me to take a seat close to the vintage vinyl record player – playing a vintage rock ‘n roll song – and rest for a bit!

 

Shopping and browsing in such intense warm weather, was very exhausting and when it was time to pause for some refreshments, we discovered that most of the cafés were nearing closing time or already closed.

 

So we headed back to Leura and went to the Wayzgoose Café for drinks and pastries.

 

It was good to sit down after exploring the country towns. I did not realise how parched I was until I tasted my fresh juice and almost finished it in one gulp.

 

Inside this cosy café, I spotted some clever but sarcastic signs put up as part of the décor and was amused by them.

 

Look! Its Sticky Date Pudding again!

After our refreshment break, we enjoyed a smooth drive back to Blacktown to drop Letty home. She graciously asked us to bring some takeaway Lamb Biryani back for Malcolm and Yeen to enjoy. [I was pleased that the takeaway portion was enough to share with us at dinner!]

 

On the return drive, there was the usual weekend traffic and when we reached home, Yeen was busy in the kitchen, not only preparing dinner but also making another Sticky Date Pudding!

 

Then after dinner, she announced that the pudding was ready and we should eat it while it was warm. This was enough of an invitation to help ourselves to a portion each, drizzled with butterscotch sauce, a fitting end to an eventful day visiting hilly country towns.

 

#MyJohorStoriesTravelogue

#MyJohorStoriesJanuary2026