Tan sisters across the generations

Long term archive volunteer, Angelica Tan (Year 12), and our College Archivist have been exploring links.  It started with noticing mention of Tan sisters in our student name listings from the 1940’s.  Angelica and her sister Caitlyn (Year 11) are current students; also Tan sisters. 

Researching the Tan sisters, Lian and Choo, we discovered they had attended Pymble during World War 2, commencing when aged 7 and 9 years after being evacuated from Singapore when they were students during 1943 and 1944. As she shared the same surname, Angelica took an interest and delved deeper.

Using a search engine, material on both sisters was found. Contact details through Lian’s work and foundation provided a contact email.  Writing to her through this organisation, we asked if she would be prepared to correspond with us.  A positive answer came back and thus a warm dialogue across the generations between a Tan sister then and now commenced.

To explore Dr Tan’s time at Pymble, Angelica asked about her experience at Pymble and her memories. Again, promptly and spritely, her first words were:

“Lovely to hear from another member of the Tan clan studying in PLC Pymble. Before I answer your questions, I would like to remind you these memories are now 80 years old.”

Dr Tan now lives in Singapore and is a practicing ophthalmologist. She told the story of her family’s evacuation from Singapore when it fell, flying to Sydney with her sister and parents. She recalled how nice the staff, senior students and the lovely Miss Knox were to her and her sister. Dr Tan also pointed out to Angelica this was during the time of the White Australia Policy. 

Towards the end of the war, the family followed their father to Bombay and remained there until its end. They returned to Singapore in 1945 where Lian continued her education, studying medicine specialising in ophthalmology. She recalled a later visit back to Australia where she had a meeting with Miss Knox, who by that time was blind from macular degeneration.

We were able to share images of the College in this era and found record of the Tan sisters’ achievements and attendance at Pymble in the Archive.  We were able to also share these with Dr Tan along with our Centenary book which she enjoyed.

Angelica notes the importance of her research:

“It’s important to keep remembering and reflecting on Pymble’s history. The stories they tell and the lessons they teach are invaluable, showing the testimony and legacy of our college.

This is an ongoing project, reviving connections and nurturing the sisterhood against the test of time. After all, once a Pymble girl, always a Pymble girl.”

Dr Tan also shared some wisdom:

“On reflection, I am grateful for all the people and all the different situations that I have encountered, they have made me realise how precious life is, how important it is to lend help and be grateful at all times.”

As a beautiful footnote, the story also reconnected two friends. Dr Tan had asked if it was possible to find some of her peers from a list of names provided to us. Our Archivist was able to find Rev Dr Helen Granowski (1950) through her teaching and ministry history. A study in serendipity, Helen, now living in Melbourne, was reconnected with Dr Tan who was visiting Melbourne.  Although Helen can no longer speak, Dr Tan recounted their meeting with joy and the broad smiles Helen gifted her.

Our warm thanks to Dr Tan.

Written by Angelica Tan (Year 12) and Enid O’Carroll, College Archivist.