Australian couple’s annual trip to S’kan for memorial service
Published on: Saturday, August 17, 2019
By: Mardinah Jikur
Annette and Bill.
SANDAKAN: An Australian married couple is happy to make the annual trip here for the Memorial Service for fallen soldiers at Sandakan Memorial Park on Aug 15.Annette Merchant, 71, and William @ Bill, 77, met the media at a high tea event welcoming distinguished guests from Australia and Britain, as well as locals at a hotel here.
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Annette, who turned 71 on Aug 13, said she finds Malaysians polite and friendly.
“This year, my husband and I came here from our small village in our home in Sydney, Australia, by cruise to Singapore and then fly to Kuala Lumpur and then to Sandakan,” she said, adding that they will also visit Kota Kinabalu after the service.
“We are happy to be here again and remember those who were fallen during WWII as well as the Sandakan Death March history that we think should be remembered as well as among youngsters,” Annette said.
Despite having no relatives or friends among the fallen soldiers, the couple still choose to remember them for their sacrifices.
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Annette said apart from the Memorial Day, she also wanted to celebrate her birthday in Sandakan – it was her 10th year here.
She and her husband first came to Sabah in 2006 and has been to Sandakan seven to eight times.
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They knew about the Sandakan Memorial Day during their flight to Kota Kinabalu and went to Sandakan to witness the ceremony themselves and they liked the way it done by the local authority.
Bill, who is a retired Australian military officer, also said he is happy to travel with his wife here.
“It feels like home,” he added.
Several years ago, the couple made a road trip from Kota Kinabalu to Kundasang and enjoyed the views.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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