Chye’s
great service is missed
By
WGCDR Peter Davis
AIR
Force families have been befriended by some wonderful people in
Malaysia, whose hospitality and contribution to the Service’s
time there can never be underestimated.
One such person was Tan Swee Tin, better known as “Chye”.
For more than 30 years, Chye provided a wonderful service to Air
Force members and their families.
Sadly, in mid 1994 Chye spent three months in China undergoing
some radical new treatment for cancer and unfortunately in early
2003 the cancer returned. He died on December 1 last year.
Chye was born in Penang in 1946 and started work in the RAAF Centre
Penang in 1965. He was in charge of the Bar Section of “the
Hostie”.
Then from 1975 to 1998 he and his wife, Joyce, held the catering
contract, ably supported by Chye’s sister, Siew Lean, and
his good friend Peter Hock.
Chye was always willing to provide the best service possible to
Air Force members and their families and became a great friend
to thousands of Australians. He went out of his way to assist
and help others.
His generosity was well known and Christmas lunch, Australia Day,
Anzac Day or Chinese New Year was always a special time at the
Hostie, with Chye putting on some wonderful luncheons.
He could serve up food almost the same as RAAF members were accustomed
to back home in Australia and was equally famous for some of his
Asian banquets. He cooked a mean curry and an equally spicy “chillied
sausage and onion”, which was always a favourite during weekend
AFL games.
From Friday chook raffles to Air Force Week cocktail parties,
from wine tastings to Oktoberfests, Chye’s contribution to
the social life of members in Penang will always be remembered.
In his last two years he had hoped to visit Australia to catch
up with some of the great friends that he had made over the years,
but he was not well enough to travel.
He will be remembered by all who met him as a great Air Force
friend. He is survived by his wife and their children,
Richard, Richmond and Pei Inn (“Inn Girl”).
