Exhibition Section II
The Manifold Development of
the Pay Fong Spirit
Self-Exploration through
Co-Curricular Activities
In the early days, ‘extracurricular activities’ were initially referred to as ‘activities outside of class’. Several student organisations were established before the war, they included the Military Band, Scout Troop, Student Council, orchestra, and prefect team. In 1965, considerable effort was directed by the School towards the development of extracurricular activities. In 1969, it incorporated extracurricular activities into the student performance evaluation criteria which employed a group learning merit system, making participating in club and society activities mandatory.
Affairs relating to extracurricular activities were initially under the jurisdiction of the Disciplinary Office until 2003. This changed when the Extracurricular Activities Department was established to better manage and develop our students’ extracurricular activities. In 2007, in line with an educational reform framework implemented by the school board, ‘extracurricular activities’ became to be referred to as ‘co-curricular activities’ instead. Highlighting its role as an extension of classroom learning, catering to student interests, aspirations, and abilities.
Co-curricular activities also contribute to maintaining a balanced physical and mental development of students, providing them with opportunities to develop organisational skills. At the same, a spirit of service is fostered while building a fulfilling and meaningful campus life.
Since the 1960s, our school has actively promoted extracurricular activities, leading to the emergence of various student organisations. Some remain active to this day, while others have faced challenges but rebounded. As societal needs and norms shifted, some organisations ceased to exist. Nonetheless, each has made significant contributions to our school's legacy, leaving a vibrant imprint on its history.
Images on Display
1. School Choir (1954)
2. Judo Club (1970)
3.Wind and String Instruments Ensemble (1970)
Images on Display
Handover and swearing-in ceremony of student club presidents (2019)
Images on Display
1. “Clubs Day”, a campus carnival jointly organised by various student organisations.
2. “Metamorphosis (Tian Can Bian) ” Student Club Leaders’ Leadership Camp (2023)
3. To commend and recognise the performance of student clubs throughout the year, the Co-Curriculum Department organises the “Wu Xing Yun Ji” Awards Ceremony, selecting and conferring honours upon outstanding student organisations.
4. The Diabolo Club, recipient of the Highest Honour Award at the 10th “Wu Xing Yun Ji” Awards (2014)
Images on Display
1. Certificate of appointment for a student club teacher adviser (1950) [replica]
2. List of extracurricular activity teacher advisers (1978)
Student Organisations Established
Pre-War
Wind Band
The Wind Band, formerly known as the Military Brass Band, was formed from the merger of the Military Band and the Brass Band. The Military Band was established in September 1916 and had records of participating in external large-scale celebrations before the war. After an organisational restructuring process in 1965, its activities expanded and became more frequent. It was often invited to attend external events and fundraisers, and performed at school events such as the School’s anniversary celebrations and sports day. In 1968, the Brass Band was established. Three years later, it merged with the Military Band to form a 100-member orchestra.
In 1999, the Military Brass Band was renamed the Wind Band and began to focus on indoor performances. It frequently participated in domestic and international music exchange and master classes to cultivate students' musical literacy and improve their performance level. Since the establishment of the School, the band has played an active role in fundraising for the School, tirelessly participating in various activities. In acknowledgment of its exceptional dedication to serving the school community, the organisation received the Teo Gah San Dedication Service Award for Outstanding Student Organisation in both 2002 and 2012.
Images and Items on Display
1. The Military Band was invited to perform at a funeral to raise funds for the School (1967).
2. On 31 August 1972, the Military Brass Band was invited to participate in the National Day parade and ceremony held at the Banda Hilir seaside field (1972).
3. As seen from the July 1976 dispatch notice, the Military Brass Band maintained a high frequency of engagements at the time (1976).
4. Participation in the Pattaya Wind Band Carnival in Thailand (2022).
5. 3-year service medal, 21st anniversary of the Military Brass Band (1986)
5-year service medal, 23rd anniversary of the Military Brass Band (1988)
6-year service medal, 24th anniversary of the Military Brass Band (1989)
Military Brass Band arm badge
6. Military Brass Band concert programme
Audio cassette of selected musical pieces, Military Brass Band performance for the School’s 70th anniversary (1983)
In 1971, the Military Brass Band was invited to Singapore to record vinyl records, marking a first for student military brass bands in the Singapore-Malaya region. In conjunction with the School’s 60th anniversary, the band returned to Singapore to record another album (1973).
Pay Fong Scout Movement
Established in 1917, the Pay Fong Scout Movement was formerly known as the Boy Scouts. In Malacca, a troop in Pay Fong School was established under the guidance of Siek Yii Tsang. The Boy Scouts demonstrated active participation. At the Boy Scouts Inspection Ceremonies in 1918 and 1919, they received high praise from Major General Ridout, Commander-in-Chief of the Malaya Command, and Frank C. Sands, Director-General of the Malayan Boy Scouts. In 1925, the development of the Pay Fong School Boy Scouts stagnated due to various environmental factors and was dissolved.
The Pay Fong School Boy Scouts resumed activities in mid-1946 after the war. At that time, they were supervised and guided by Au Loon, who trained the first batch of King’s Scouts in post-war Malacca in 1950. In 1953, with Au Loon’s resignation, the School’s Boy Scouts activities came to a halt due to a lack of guiding talent.
In 1965, the School vigorously promoted extracurricular activities, resulting in the reorganisation of the School’s Boy Scouts which came to be known as Tranquerah’s 10th Troop. In 1967, the Pay Fong Girl Scouts were officially established as Malacca’s 7th troop. It was during this time that the Pay Fong Boy Scouts entered their golden period. They were particularly active in the 1970s and 1980s. In addition to their everyday training on campus, they often conducted outdoor training to enhance outdoor living skills and held campfire gatherings, inviting the participation of Boy Scouts from both inside and outside Malacca.
In 2004, the School's Boy and Girl Scouts merged to form the Scout Troop, and with the assistance of the Friends of Pay Fong Scouts, they actively participated in various levels of scout examinations, and frequently exchanged with scouts from various locations, actively serving the School and community.
Images and Items on Display
1. Apart from learning daily scouting skills such as signalling and first aid, the Boy Scouts frequently engaged in camping and excursions. Pictured is a group photograph of the Scouts during a trip to Bukit Cina (January 1918).
2. During the 1949 school holidays, Boy Scouts from the School and the Anglo-Chinese School (ACS) embarked on a bicycle expedition to Singapore. Pictured is a group photograph taken at the former school site before their departure (1949).
3. Scout members participating in a swearing-in ceremony during an outdoor camp (2023).
4. To celebrate their 100th anniversary, the Pay Fong Scout Troop organised the “Centenary Celebration and Scout Skills Challenge”, inviting scouts from various countries to participate (2017).
5. The Principal placing scarves on Girl Scouts to complete their swearing-in ceremony.
6. Scout swearing-in ceremony booklet (1965)
Various badges for the Scout Troop’s centenary (2017)
Girl Scout Leader Service Medal
The Malacca Chief Education Officer was invited to the Anniversary Celebration to present the service medal for distinguished contributions to uniformed groups to a Girl Scout leader (1977).
Students Society
Students Society is composed of two organisations—the Academic Research Society, and the Sports and Recreation Club. Its predecessor dates to the establishment of the Student Council in 1923. At that time, students exhibited strong academic enthusiasm, self-governance, and a proactive attitude towards service. This led to the formation of the Student Council to assist the School in various tasks, such as managing the student store, school library, etc., under the purview of the Disciplinary Office.
After the war, the Student Council resumed its role in 1946. In addition to fulfilling its regular responsibilities, it also played a crucial role in helping the School recover from war damage. This included organising book donation drives every semester to enrich the school library's collection, and hosting special competitions as part of the School's anniversary celebrations to raise funds.
In 1948, with the country entering a state of emergency, all student councils nationwide were mandated by the Ministry of Education to cease their activities. Inspired by the ethos of the Student Council, teachers and students of our school decided to divide into the Academic Research Society, and the Sports and Recreation Club. They then applied for approval from the Registry of Societies, which was granted in August of the same year.
The Academic Research Society is responsible for promoting academic activities, while the Sports and Recreation Club is responsible for promoting sports and recreational activities. Since then, the two organisations have grown and served as organisers for various events within the School, including class sports tournaments, essay contests, public speaking competitions, and singing competitions.
In 2003, with the establishment of the Extracurricular Activities Department, the Lianghui came under its purview, gradually transforming into a support unit for large-scale school-wide activities.
Images and Items on Display
1: Group photograph of members and instructors participating in the anniversary parade.
2: By 1933, the Student Council already comprised nine sections: Library, Public Speaking, Literature and Arts, Physical Education, Hygiene, Discipline, Publication, Art, and Gardening. The diverse activities and formats of each unit laid the seeds for the future establishment of numerous student organisations (1933).
3: Group photograph of Student Council Library Section committee members (1933)
4: Members practising microphone checks.
5. Group photograph of Student Council committee members with teachers after their swearing-in ceremony (July 1948)
6. Runner-up medal, Division B of the General Knowledge Quiz organised by the Academic Research Society (1970)
Swearing-in oath of the Academic Research Society and the Sports and Recreation Club (1970) [replica]
Third place medal, Division A of the Art Competition organised by the Academic Research Society (1972)
Certificate of completion for the Academic Research Society and the Sports and Recreation Club (1996)
Prefectorial Board
The Prefectorial Board, formerly known as the Student Patrol Team, was established in 1931 under the authority of the Disciplinary Office. Its primary responsibility was to uphold campus order and supervise younger students, specifically those in Standard 1 and 2 at the time. Following the war, the Student Patrol Team underwent restructuring by the Disciplinary Office in 1962 and was renamed the Student Services Team. However, it was temporarily suspended until its reinstatement in 1968.
The Student Services Team operated under the ethos of ‘leading by example, service to the School,’ and its duties included patrolling, standing guard, and assisting in surprise inspections conducted by the Disciplinary Office. Additionally, it was responsible for organising the weekly flag-raising ceremony. In 1983, the Student Services Team underwent another transformation and was renamed the Prefectorial Board.
In 2003, with the formation of the Extracurricular Activities Department, the Prefectorial Board was officially acknowledged as one of several student organisations. However, in 2024, the Prefectorial Board underwent restructuring, returning to its former status. It is now directly overseen by the Disciplinary Office, independent of the student organisations.
Images and Items on Display
1. Group photograph of the Student Services Team with teachers. This marked the first time team members wore ties with their school uniforms (1970).
2. Duty roster of the Student Patrol Team, second semester (1933)
3. Group photograph of the Morning Session Student Services Team and the teacher advisers. At the time, due to a shortage of classrooms, students were divided into morning and afternoon sessions (1963).
4. Members of the Prefectorial Board participating in a swearing-in ceremony (2019).
5. Swearing-in oath of the Student Services Team (1975) [replica]
Certificate of the Student Services Team (1972)
Certificate of the Prefectorial Board (2003)
Red Crescent First Aid Team
Established in 1962, disbanded in 2009. Formerly known as the Red Cross First Aid Team, it was renamed the Malaysian Red Crescent Society in 1975. The Red Crescent First Aid Team is readily on duty at various events and occasions held in our school throughout the year, such as school anniversary celebrations, sports days, cross-country races, ball games competitions, gatherings, etc. where they are responsible for providing on-site first aid services. In addition, team members take turns to be on duty in the first aid room during recess periods to assist injured students as and when needed.
Images and Items on Display
1. Registration certificate of the Red Cross First Aid Team as the 7th Detachment of the Malacca Red Cross Link (October 1962)
2. Group photograph of Red Cross First Aid Team members with teachers (1975)
Stage Lighting Team
Established in 1963 after the Pay Fong Assembly Hall was constructed, the lighting team was added as an extracurricular activity to meet the needs of school and external events. Members of the lighting team not only operated stage lighting but were also required to grasp the details and processes of various stage performances to achieve the best visual effects. This included familiarity with drama scripts, performers' movements, costume colours, and even makeup.
In 1984, due to the replacement of the lighting system in the assembly hall, the operation methods changed. Consequently, in June 1985, the team transitioned and was renamed the Stage Lighting Team. Over the years, members of the lighting team or stage lighting team played their roles behind-the-scenes until a new assembly hall was built in 1994. Following that, an embedded lighting system was adopted, resulting in the disbandment of the team.
Images on Display
1. A formal letter from Pay Teck Girls’ School requesting the support of the School’s Lighting Team members for their Talent Night (1977).
2. Students from the Stage Lighting Team operating the lighting system in the Assembly Hall.
Flag Unit
The predecessor of the flag unit was the drill team established in 1966, originally organised by the School to train lower-secondary school students and uniformed groups in marching. During the School’s anniversary celebration in 1967, the female student was first appointed by the School to hold the school flag, while two male students held the national and state flags, leading other teams in a solemn inspection ceremony, which led to the establishment of the flag unit. Subsequently, the flag unit participated in numerous events such as National Day, school anniversary celebrations, sports days, and opening ceremonies. Around 2000, due to changes in the times and a gradual decrease in the number of members, the flag unit was disbanded.
Images on Display
1. On 31 August 1972, the Flag Unit and the Military Brass Band were invited to participate in the National Day parade and ceremony held at the Banda Hilir seaside field (now the site of Dataran Pahlawan Melaka Megamall). Pictured is the Flag Unit passing the reviewing stand (1972).
2. Certificate of the Flag Unit (1997)
3. With colourful flags fluttering, synchronised steps, and a valiant bearing, the Flag Unit has always projected a disciplined and dignified image. Pictured are members of the Flag Unit leading other contingents at the front during an anniversary inspection ceremony.
Harmonica Team
Harmonica performances can be traced back to the 1930s. Initially, the harmonica Team was a temporary organisation, it was however officially established as a student club in 1968. The team was active in various occasions such as school anniversary ceremonies, opening ceremonies, and gala evenings, not only presenting musical performances but often accompanying the performance of national anthem and school song before the marching band was reinstated.
Having been established in 1968 for only three months, the harmonica team was invited by the Malacca branch of Radio Television Malaysia to record a half-hour radio programme. In the late 1990s, due to a gradual decrease in the number of members, the harmonica team eventually disbanded.
Images and Items on Display
1. Harmonica Team Flag
2. The Harmonica Team was consistently active in various events. Pictured is a performance by the team during the Anniversary Showcase Night (1968)
