Mondaywrap11august2014

Western Province Chinese Association August 11 2014MONDAY WRAPAlways Free ISSUE NO.10

WPCA’s previous community centre in Mowbray, Cape Town

WPCA moved into the Community Centre in Observatory in November 1999. Prior to that WPCA owned property in Mowbray just below the M3 (Mostert’s Mill turn off). The Cape Town Chinese Association, now WPCA, bought a house in 1940 and started a Chinese School. Community leaders collected funds and via George Ming raised the bulk from the Transvaal (now Gauteng) Chinese. In 1945 they purchased the property in Mowbray for £8000. The manor house is a Victorian building. The entrance hall was panelled in Teak, the ceilings were embellished and the fi replaces were marble. All the windows, the doors and the staircase were teak. There was an extensive garden in the front with 2 palm trees and 2 very large wild fi g trees. Mowbray became the hub of the community for 50 plus years. Law Ming Sing and Lana Manley held the fi rst wedding reception in one of the rooms. In 1950, a hall was built onto the end room with this room becoming the stage. Willie and Jacqueline Tim Fat held the fi rst wedding reception in the hall. Many weddings, birthday parties, school concerts and dances were held in the hall. Sports played in the hall were badminton and table tennis. The steps of the manor house was the scene for many a photo. In 1963, thesteps were widened to cover the length of the stoep so as to accommodate the community. Basketball wasplayed on the original tennis court with spectators sitting around the court. This court was used for drilling exercises for the pupils. The manor house was the home of the Chinese Primary School until the late 1970’s. Originally pupils completed Grade 10 and wrote the Junior Certifi cate exams. In those days Chinese were not permitted to attend government school and those that planned to attend university completed their matric at Livingstone High School in Claremont. Then the government announced that private schools may no longer write the Junior Certifi cate exams. Community leaders visited the Anglican and Catholic schools to request their acceptance of Chinese children. These schools would then have to apply each year for a permit to allow Chinese to become pupils. The Catholic schools agreed but pupils had to be Catholics. The Anglican schools, St George’s Grammar School and St Cyprians, agreed to accept Chinese pupils. In 1959, The class of Daphne Manley and Patsy Keeson were the fi rst to leave after Grade 8. However, changing in the second year of high school led to a syllabus gap and in order to prevent this or to become Catholics, some pupils started to leave before completing Grade 8. In addition there

were very few new community members and thus fewer births. This led to a reduction in pupils and to the closure of the school. There was an attempt to restart it with the Kevin Jackson / Alex Lee Pan group but Chinese could now attend the government schools this was not successful.The closure of the school resulted in less use of the community centre and thus less income and less maintenance. The then committee of the Cape Town Chinese Association started the Fund Raising dinners. The mothers of ex-pupils prepared and cooked the food and guests enjoyed a traditional Chinese meal. Cilla Lee-Pan recalls her work colleagues devouring the steamed stuffed duck and sucking all the bones. The late Uncle Manley was on the same table and had graciously broken open the duck for all to tuck in. The cost of the menu was R6.00! After some time the ladies of the community became less involved and the menu became more westernised. The dinners became so popular that the lounge was used and at times even the foyer. At one dinner the waiters could barely squeeze between the chairs. In 1996 it was decided to raise funds to build a new hall to accommodate a full size basketball court. Leslie Hoy prepared the artist’s impression of the redeveloped community centre and application was made to have the old garage removed. This led to UCT approaching WPCA on a land swap option. The cost of restoring was very high as it is a Grade A building and original material had to be used for the restoration. In addition the building was in the middle of the plot. Thus the WPCA committee decided to investigate the UCT offer. This will be the subject of a future issue.It was with sadness that many of us parted from the Mowbray Community as most of our memories were intertwined with it but the community centre did not suit the future needs of an enlarged community. Dick and the late Tina Fu presented the community with a drawing (painted by Tina) of the Victorian House as their farewell gift.

Back: Ken Lee, late Frank Manley, Joseph Queton, Ken Chong, Late Ming Kai, Gordon Ling , Late Lesley Kwongsee, George Keeson, late Stanley Lee Shew, Francois Hsieh (secretary for ROC Consulate),Middle: Fi Ling Chu, late Peter Hunt, Victor Chong, late Mr Chen Fong Lee, late Consul General David Hong, late Seh Fah Hunt, Norman Jackson.Front: Bernadette Keeson, Lily Keeson, Daphne Manley, Maureen Kai, Elaine Lee Sui.

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Megan Zoe Ying was born on Thursday 17 July to proud parents Warren Ying and Lindi Pow Chong. A beautiful little granddaughter to Ying grandparents Eddie and Mary Ann from George and Pow Chong grandparents Lawrence and Evelyn.

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