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 The Covid-19 pandemic may have caused severe disruption
to the lives and livelihoods of people around the globe, but
it did not prevent ACSians abroad to find ways and means
to celebrate the 135th ACS Founder’s Day without flouting
safety management measures. Besides the celebrations in
Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Auckland as reported below,
there were also other smaller groups of ACSians abroad, and
in Singapore as well, gathering to celebrate their beloved alma
mater’s birthday.
PERTH,
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
 Birthed forth during the lockdown periods of COVID-19 and the
yearning for more social interaction, a group was started on
Facebook recently in hopes of gathering ACSians on the Down
Under “western shores”, in friendly competition with the eastern
states. Consequently, ACS Founder’s Day was celebrated in Perth,
Western Australia for the first time.
On March 1, 16 like-minded ACSians who share similar character
traits and humour assembled at the office of Wesley Sim (ACSS
1979 & ACJC 1981) in the Perth City centre for an evening of
fellowship over a simple pizza meal. A flag hung on the office wall;
the only decoration needed to say it all. There was no initial shyness
to get over
 and even though the age gap between the oldest and
youngest ACSian graduates spanned over 40 years, we all greeted
each other as though we had known each other for a long time
Together, we watched the ACS135 Thanksgiving Service
livestream on the screen and then moved on to a round of seated
introductions. Old stories and tales of the school years were shared
and eventually when it was time, everyone stood and sang the ACS
anthem proud and loud. For some of us, it was the first time in
decades we were singing this unforgotten anthem. The atmosphere
was indeed saturated with nostalgic pride.
The gathering is the first of many to come, and a tradition that will
no doubt continue by the members who will stand together for the
cause, of ACS forever.
Brandon Lye
ACJS 1999 & ACS (I) 2003
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