Lim Sew Kwe

Lim Sew Kwe BA (Hons) 1972, DipEd 1973, was one of the bright young Malaysian minds awarded a Colombo Plan scholarship to study at Monash in the 1960s and 70s. As with many of the Colombo Plan scholars, she's made a lasting difference since returning home.

Upon graduating, Sew Kwe returned to Malaysia to realise her ambition to become a teacher – beginning in her home town of Melaka, then moving to the Klang Valley, where she held teaching positions at SMK Tengku Ampuan Rahimah (Klang), SMK Assunta and SMK Katholic High. She later became Principal of SMK Taman Selayang, and in 1999, Principal of SMK Assunta in Petaling Jaya, where she stayed for four years until retiring in December 2003.

Sew Kwe will be forever remembered as one of Assunta's most progressive and industrious principals. She led a number of fundraising projects for the school, including a successful RM1.5 million campaign for a new building at SMK Assunta which houses a new cafeteria, an impressive
library and the school's first computer labs.

Sew Kwe recalls that the "experiences I brought home from Melbourne (and Monash in particular) helped me through my career and developed my sense of independence and confidence." In retirement, Sew Kwe plans to go back to teaching on a voluntary basis at orphanages and churches, and to try her hand at Chinese calligraphy and painting.

And would she have any advice for students and younger grads? "Do your best! Appreciate whatever has been given to us and make the best of it!"

Sew Kwe, Steven, Cheryl & Leng Pin