Memories of St Anthony’s 1946 – 1956
Mr K.Santhirasegaran
Date of
Interview: 25th January 2015
Interviewed by:
Louis Rozario Doss
An Interview
with Mr K.Santhirasegaran, Old Boy & Anthonian Sports Hero.
If there is
anyone in Lower Perak who deserves to be acclaimed as the all-time sports
maestro
of this
district, it is our old boy and versatile sports coach, Mr K Santhiasegaran.
Born 8th February 1939_, Mr Segaran was educated at St Anthony’s
School .Teluk Intan.After his Senior Cambridge year in 1956,
he spent seven years in Australia and Sri Lanka. He returned to
Malaya in 1962__- and decided that teaching was the true pathway for him. His
teaching career in the government service spanned 33 years and wherever he was
posted he has left the imprint of his leadership style as a sports maestro who
has raised humble schools to dizzying heights of championships in athletics, hockey,
football,badminton and basketball. Among the schools where he served with
distinction were the following:
Temporary
Teaching:
SK Sultan Abdul
Aziz,Kuala Selangor (1953-54)
After his
teacher training, he was posted to:
SMK Sekinchang (1965-69)
-
English teacher
-
Asst Sports Secretary
SMK Horley
Methodist, Teluk Intan (1970-94)
-
English teacher
-
Sports Secretary
-
Retired at SMK Horley Methodist, TI
SMK St Anthony,
Teluk Intan (1995- Feb 1998)
-
Posted as Contract Teacher (English) to SMK St
Anthony,TI
-
Served as Mentor to Sports Secretary
Q Tell us why
you finally chose the teaching profession?
I suppose it
was my subconscious admiration for the zeal and charisma of our Lasallian
teachers, among them Brother Michael,Brother Benignus and Mr Martin Yong. For a
time I toyed with the prospect of doing medicine ( in Sri Lanka) and Agricultural
Science (in Adelaide,Australia) but along the way I discovered another
overpowering passion in my life: love of sports. In both Sri Lanka and
Australia, I spent more time on track and field than in the medical laboratory
or agricultural stations. I discovered that I was irresistibly drawn towards
sports and the training of young sportsmen. I loved working with young people
and ultimately decided that my vocation in life was teaching.
Q Who helped you make the final decision to
enter teacher training?
I was doing a
stint of temporary teaching at Sekolah Sultan Abdul Aziz, Kuala Selangor.My
headmaster, Mr Denison, was a wonderful father figure who wanted to help chart
a more secure future for temporary teachers like me. It was he who encouraged
young teachers like myself to undergo the Normal Teacher Training Course conducted at various centres. I attended
the weekend lectures in Klang and the holiday courses in Penang. Ultimately, I
qualified as a trained teacher and was posted to SMK Sekinchang, Kuala
Selangor.
Q You have had
many great moments in the sports arena as Sports Secretary at various schools.
Could you share some of these great moments with us?
As a newly posted teacher to SMK
Sekinchang, I was appointed Asst Sports Secretary. That year we organized the
first ever sports meet for the school in its history. It was a great event in a
small town. It was like a mini-Olympics. The guest of honour was the Honb’le
Education Minister, Encik Mohamad Khir Johari. The school realized the vast
power of sports events in making a school proud of itself and the
transformative power of sports in the life of young athletes who become sports
heroes.
My years in SMK Horley Methodist, Teluk
Intan, are truly memorable for the great heights achieved in basketball and
volleyball where the school teams became Perak state champions on several
occasions.
I also played an actively role in coaching
school athletes from Lower Perak who went on to achieve distinction at national
level.
Most of all, sports brings young people
together as a band of brothers working towards a common goal.It also creates in
them a true love of the teachers who spend time with them on the field.It makes
for better school spirit and discipline.
Q You have been a keen observer of the the local
and national sports scene over the years. Would you like to tell us about the
sports heroes produced by St Anthony’s over the years?
At hockey, the four all-time greats from St
Anthony’s are indisputably A.Francis, R.Shankar, Ramakrishnan and Ramuandy.
A.Francis tops the list as a world-class international who is currently a
hockey coach in Germany. R.Shankar was the Malaysian hockey captain
(1998-1991).
We must also remember M.Rajamani,
Malaysia’s international 400 m champion. She was a teacher at St Anthony’s (1963-64)
when she was in the international limelight in the 1960s.
During my school days in the 1950s, I
remember that the Anthonian athletics relay team ( 4 x 100m) held the national
championship for two years (1953-54). The members of the team were Dr Cheah
Song Kang,Wong Keng Heng, Linus Pereira and Benedict Gomez. Another
contemporary Anthonian relay team which also figured strongly in the 1950s at national level consisted of Thambirajah,
Dairiam and Aloysius.
Returning to the subject of athletics, I
remember A. Doraisamy who became national
800m schools champion in the 1980s. I was very closely invoved in
coaching and guiding this champion.
Q Sadly, we have few picture of these all-time
greats from our school. Any suggestions on what we can do to get these pics?
Try Mr Nara. He was a member of our
Anthonian staff. He used to take great pictures. He is bound to have many
vintage photographs.
Q Finally, Mr
Segaran, I am going to ask you to list
10 Anthonians (past students) who in your estimation have won top honours for
our alma mater through their excellence in public service and corporate
leadership.
Not an easy task as there are so many
who have a claim to distinction. I would
like to list the following without any difference in ranking:
Tan Sri Zain
Azraai bin Zainal Abidin – Malaysia’s ambassador to the US (1970s) and
Permanent Representative to the United Nations ;for his distinguished public
service
Dr.K.
Ravindran - World-renowned Ortthopaedic Specialist, Fatima Hospital
Ipoh, a great benefactor to SMK St Anthony,Teluk Intan and ardent promoter of
community service for the marginalized
Dato’ H.E.
Almeida – Former Chief Police Officer,Perak for his exemplary zeal in public
service
Dato’ Tan Kay
Hock – Chairman of George Kent Holdings Bhd , for his outstanding corporate
leadership and his generosity towards the alma mater
Dr.S.Anthonysamy
– All-Asian President of the Catholic Doctors’ Guild ,noted for his unfaiing
support for the Anthonian Alumni and his exemplary leadership of an NGO
Dr. P. Ramasamy
– Deputy Chief Minister,Penang ; distinguished academic and public figure
Tan Sri Dato’ Ramli
Ngah Talib – Former Mentri Besar, Perak and Speaker of Parliament ;distinguished
public figure
Mr Aw Fook Yew
– Distinguished corporate figure
Prof
Subramaniam Pillay – distinguished academician and ardent social activist
Brigadier Chin
Huat – distinguished military service to the country and outstanding public
servant
I must
emphasize that there are many others who have the eminence to be named here. I
hope there will be more Anthonians who will come forward not only to share your
memories but also to name TEN ANTHONIANS who have given exemplary and excellent
service to our school, country and manknd as a whole.
(Note from
Blogger: Anthonians are invited to post their choice of 10 Anthonians who can be regarded as edifying
role models for the young Anthonians of today. You can enail me at
louisrozariodoss@yahoo.co.uk)
