Don on a mission
Prof Christina Twomey is searching for Malaysians who knew Australian service personnel and their families who lived and served in Malaysia between 1945 and 1988.
GEORGE TOWN: They lived among Penangites and in subtle ways, some of their culture rubbed off on the locals.
The Australian presence in Penang spanned decades. When the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) had a base in Butterworth, they had their own radio station, which locals could tune in to.
Radio RAAF Butterworth was just one of the many things that Australians had here which helped shape Penang’s society, and a historian wants to uncover the depth of that influence.
Prof Christina Twomey is searching for Malaysians who knew Australian service personnel and their families who lived and served in Malaysia between 1945 and 1988.
She is studying the social impact of the 100,000-odd Australians’ time in Penang, Melaka, Singapore, Japan and Hong Kong.
She said most of the air force personnel lived in Penang while army personnel were in Melaka.
Twomey said their lives remains a historical mystery to most.
“I conducted a survey with former Australian military personnel who described their memories.
“Now I wish to locate Malaysians who came into contact with them, to assist me in the study,” she said.
She is a history professor and head of the School of Philosophical, Historical and International Studies at Monash University.
Her research is entitled “Australia’s Asian garrisons and regional engagement: Overseas military communities and regional engagement, 1945-1988.”
She said she would like to get the Malaysian perspective on how Australians may have impacted their lives.
“I’m looking for anyone who worked for the military communities, such as amahs or civilians who did business with them, people who worked at the RAAF base or school, or who got to know the Australians at social clubs or engaged in voluntary work,” she said.
Twomey said the project will expand and reinterpret the history of Australia’s engagement with Asia.
“I cannot wait to meet these Malaysians and get their side of the story,” she said excitedly.
She remembers staying in Penang’s Vale of Tempe, called Lembah Permai today, when she was 11, while her dad served with the RAAF in Butterworth from 1979 to 1981.
“A Chinese amah, whom I only knew as Sai, used to work for us, and I would be happy if I can get in touch with her again,” she said, adding that she would come back to Penang next month.
Those who can help Twomey can e-mail her at christina.