Reunion Bash by ‘Golden Girls’ of St Agnes GHS 1966-67 Batch
Reunion Bash brought back Memories of Good Old Days for 15 “Golden Girls” of 1966-67 First English Medium Batch 10th C -St Agnes Girls High School
Mangaluru: Reunions-they can be excitedly anticipated or painfully dreaded. Either way, the first hour or so can be awkward as people shuffle in from all over. Reunions should include time for catching up and renewing old relationships. Getting past that awkward hour will get a little easier if there is lots of fun and easy reunion ice breaker games. And for that matter, the reunion bash of St Agnes Girls High School (SAGHS) 1966-67 First English Medium Batch 10th C was organized in such a way that everyone had a good time, it was not boring and there were no complaints. Well organized with lots of fun and frolic, especially kudos to the “Star Lady” of the day who simply rocked and kept the party live and entertaining.
St Agnes Girls High School now changed to St Agnes Kannada School
Yes, Class Reunions are a chance to brag about what they may or may not have accomplished. For some, there is the fear of what has not been accomplished. And there are some, that are just interested in how far people have come. There is also a chance to look at the humorous side of things. Spending time looking at the fashion and the hair in old photos, and is also a chance to look back at some of the stupid things that were done while being classmates. December 16, 2016, was a nostalgic journey down the memory lane for the 14 “Golden Girls”/Classmates who came together to celebrate their reunion after 50 years to relive old times and honour their teachers. The party was held at Apts 104/105 “Sai Grandier “Opp St Ann’s Friary, owned by Juliet (Mascarenhas) Pereira, a SAGHS alumni.
The memoirs of yester years were once again rejuvenated as they shared their memories of those golden, youthful, cheerful days full of happiness and joy. To enliven the atmosphere there was not only singing but also few games, floor dance and lots of friendship cum fellowship, together with a sumptuous spread of food that added spice to the occasion. 10th C Batch of SAGHS 1966-67 had 41 students, but only 15 could make it this Reunion Bash, since most of them were out of town, abroad or other commitments – or babysit their grandkids.
When the batch of 1966-67 at St Agnes Girls High School located at Bendore, Mangaluru walked out of the gates upon completing their education there, they had little idea of which road each might take. While some landed into good profession/jobs, some others settled abroad, while the rest were housewives taking care of their family members. With the advent of social media, some of them kept in touch with each other instead of exchanging postcards like in the olden days. But these chums from school were never under the same roof again, laughing at old jokes or taking digs at classmates. Cut to 2016 and they are all women now – most with salt and pepper hair (some had dyed hair)?. But the moment they walked into the party room at Sai Grandier Apartment, which was reserved for their ’50 Years’ reunion, the maturity that comes with age seemed to have taken a leap through the window and the girlish fun was back.
These 15 “Jewels” or call them “Golden Girls” namely Philomena “Lumi” Rodricks (Canada), Usha Bhavanishankar (Subramanya), Jayashree Rao Prabhakar (Bengaluru), Mohini (Udupi), Juliet Pereira, Veena Shashidhar, Mary Ann Rasquinha, Eunice D’Cunha, Violet Fernandes, Irene Pinto (Veigas), Veena Rasquinha, Josephine Rego, Anunciata Colaco, Suchitra and Blaze Pinto, (all residing in Mangaluru) were in their sixties but looking pretty and young-some with grey hair, some have lost teeth, some had wrinkles on their face, some had extreme makeup to look young – but all had one goal, to have fun and cherish their school days memories.
For Juliet Pereira who made all the communications and arrangements to host this Bash, and also to the rest of the classmates from 10 C Batch, who met each other after years, 50 years seemed to have frozen in a spatial dimension. Some of them hugged each other, some appeared overwhelmed to having found old partners in crime and took a moment or two to relive the old jokes. Lumi Rodricks said, “It is amazing and quite overwhelming to see all of us together here united to share our memories of good old school days. In those times, we were a very well-protected batch and were far more disciplined than students these days. Probably that helped us become who we are in life. The school was our life and soul. Thanks to the Nuns of St Agnes Convent, our mentors and teachers – one teacher, Juliana Lobo is amidst us to share in our fun and frolic”.
Happy to see her students after so many years, Juliana “Teacher” Lobo (celebrating her 90th birthday coming Monday) fondly recalled, “This batch was extremely cohesive and united. They all know about my strictness and love for discipline. I know they all loved me when I was their “strict” and they love me today too. I am happy to be with them after nearly 50 years. Even though I am 90 years old, I survived three accidents, and was hospitalized six times for Malaria- but God is great who has protected and kept me under his arms, and I am lucky to be alive and spend this memorable day with you all. Thanks for your love and kind gesture”. Teacher Juliana was felicitated on the occasion and was also wished on her birthday.
Amidst these alumni was N Shankari Bhat, the wife of Late Narayan Bhat, who was the Kannada teacher to all these alumni- she too was felicitated with a shawl, fruit bowl and a memento. The welcome address was done by Juliet Pereira, followed by invoking God’s blessings through a prayer song by Veena Shashidhar. The SAGHS school anthem was recited by Usha Bhavashankari, while Lumi Rodricks brought back some good old school days memories addressing the gathering. A two minutes silence was observed to pay respect to the departed classmates of 10th C. The formal function ended with some games, including Housie-housie, fellowship and sumptuous lunch.
To sum it up the St Agnes Girls High School 1966-67 Batch of 10th C, Reunion Bash will go unparalleled in history, while the snapshots will speak for themselves. Many exclaimed, “Oh what an awesome reunion it was!”. Quite overwhelmed with the response showed by the ex-Agnesians, and excellent arrangements made by Juliet (Mascarenhas) Pereira and her organizing committee, many of these Alumni want to have many more such Reunions in the years to come. Until we meet again at the next Reunion celebration, cherish all the fun and frolic you encountered at this bash. Who said vintage folks don’t have fun- these 15 vintage revelers simply rocked?