It was the beginning of something none of them could have imagined: a friendship that would span over six decades.

In February, 21 of them reunited at Cinnamon Coffee House in One World Hotel here, some travelling from Adelaide and Sydney to make it. There were warm embraces, easy laughter and at one point, they even broke into their school song.

Speaking with FMT Lifestyle recently, Vemala Thuryrajah, Farrah Ong Abdullah and Saripah Dahlan reflected on their lasting bond and the experiences that have stayed with them.

For the trio, some of the most vivid memories were made during their home science classes. “I enjoyed the cooking classes,” Vemala said with a smile.

There, the girls learnt to follow recipes, measure ingredients and work side by side. “But the best part was that after cooking, we got to eat what we made!” added Vemala.

Saripah agreed, recalling how they made tea, coffee and sandwiches – and how their teacher, Miss Siew Kat Lan, would scold them if the slices were too thick.

Farrah, too, spoke fondly of the same class – and their strict but unforgettable teacher. “I personally learnt a lot from her – practical skills, discipline and how you should behave,” said Farrah.

That balance of firmness and care was something they remember in several other teachers, including Standard Five class teacher, Hue Siew Len, fondly known as Mrs Liew.

“She was very strict, so we made sure our sentences were written properly, our dates were underlined and our lines were straight because she would check our exercise books. Those early lessons helped us later in life,” said Vemala.

While many of their teachers have since passed on, their legacy lives on in their students. “They helped shape who we have become,” said Saripah.

Beyond the classroom, small, everyday moments stayed with them – like gathering at their tuck shop during breaks. “With five or 10 cents, you could buy so much,” Vemala recalled.

Then there were the after-school adventures – enjoying cendol or rojak and heading to the cinema together.

Back then in Raub, life moved at a gentler pace – there were no traffic lights, just familiar faces and a strong sense of community.

In school, that closeness extended beyond race. Most of their batchmates were Chinese and through daily interactions, Vemala even picked up Cantonese.

Most of the students’ parents knew one another, Farrah shared, and some of their lives were intertwined from the beginning, with their mothers in the same hospital ward when giving birth.

After Form 3, most of them parted ways, and over time, life took them in different directions. Vemala, went on to become a deputy director with the Melaka Social Welfare Department and later, a lecturer. She has since retired, now calling Melaka home.

Farrah built a career in nursing, eventually retiring as a matron, and now lives in the Klang Valley. Saripah is running a business in Raub.

Yet, the bond between them never faded. In the early years, they wrote letters and spoke over landline phones. Today, they stay connected through a WhatsApp group.

For Farrah, their former class monitor, Chin Yoon Hun, has also played a key role in keeping her connected, often sharing updates about their friends and gatherings.

And so, through the years, they have remained part of each other’s lives, sharing in joyful milestones like the wedding of Farrah’s son and standing by one another through loss of loved ones and illnesses.

In difficult times, the bond forged in childhood proved its strength, and Farrah recalled accompanying a classmate to hospital appointments after a cancer diagnosis.

As they look ahead, their hopes are simple: to continue meeting, laughing and remembering.

“We shared the same childhood, the same memories,” said Farrah.

“We are like sisters,” concluded Saripah.