HomeNewse-Xaverian SXI Raised Funds for New Building - Sxi CHIT CHAT dd 15.6.0
SXI Raised Funds for New Building - Sxi CHIT CHAT dd 15.6.0
sxi CHIT CHAT is a supplement publication of The Xaverian Family e-NewsLetter. Comments, views, recollections of school days received from fellow-Xaverians are posted here for the reading of the members. If you wish to respond to them or share your happier times, (or unpleasant ones for that matter) of your school days at SXI and its associated schools, please email your anecdotes to . It is our intention to compile all recollections and bind them into a book for the School’s Archives
A Recollection of How Funds Were Raised For The New SXI Building
When work on the new building started, Mr. Heah Joo Seang J.P. invited prominent people in Penang, mostly Old Boys to join him to form a Building Fund Committee. The objective was to find ways and means to raise funds to help towards the cost of the building. Members of the committee were:
Chairman: Mr. Heah Joo Seang J.P. Hon. Secretary: Mr. Khor Cheang Kee Hon Treasurer: Messrs Lee Honh Cheang & Company
Other members included Rev. Brother Barnitus Kennedy (Bro. Visitor 1945 – 1955), Rev. Brother Anthony Knoll (Bro. Director of SXI 1953 – 55), Honourable Mr. Leong Yew Koh (Later the Chief Minister of Malacca), Honourable Dr. K. Mohammed Ariff C.B.E., J.P., Honourable Mr. H.B. Van Praagh J.P., Honourable Dr. N.K. Menon J.P., Dr. Haji S. Mohamed Baboo, Mr. E.P. Balhetchet, Mr. Lim Gim Boon, Mr. Cheah Eng Khim, Mr. A.C. Reutens J.P. and Mr. Tan Boon Chye.
To make the fund-raising nation-wide, Mr. A.C. Reutens and Mr. Lim Gim Boon travelled widely to various towns to approach past pupils of SXI, alumni of other Brothers’ Schools and well-wishers. Rev. Brother Philip and Mr. Lim Gim Boon even went up to Kota Bharu. It was noteworthy that the Kelantan Sub-committee collected more than $10,000.00 for a classroom to be named after that State.
“A Dollar A Brick” government-approved-lottery was set up as another mean of raising fund. It was overwhelmingly successful, chiefly due to the efforts of the pupils, teachers of SXI and other Brothers’ Schools and the Convents. Mr. Heah personally donated $50,000.00 to this building fund. An inter-class competition based on dollars collected was held among the classes which were divided into 3 divisions. The winning classes were as follows:
The foundation stone for the new building was laid by His Grace, the Rt. Rev. Dr. Olcomendy, Archbishop of Malacca. After the building was completed and certified fit, the students moved from the attap shed classrooms to the new premises in April, 1954. The school auditorium was named in honour of Mr. Heah for his untiring efforts and contributions. Hurray! no more umbrellas or old newspapers to cover the heads and slimy muddy floors when it rained!
Mr. Pengelly of the Municipal Council of Penang designed the new building which was officially declared open on 5th August, 1955 by Mr. J.S.H. Cunyngham Brown O.B.E., MCS., President of the Penang Municipal Council.
