KUCHING – It was a walk down memory lane for 66-year-old Michael Lim as he fondly remembers his grandfather, Reverend Yong Chua, whose pictures were displayed at the Sarawak Photo-Heritage Hunt 2004 at Dewan Tun Razak.

“That’s me there in the picture. We came from a large family. I remember we used to live in a house in what is now the St Thomas Primary School,” he said, adding that his grandfather was a serving priest at the time. His wife, Chia Phek Hui, also ministered alongside him.

Another of Rev Yong’s granddaughter, Peggy Lai, 53, looks the spitting image of her grandmother, Chia Phek Hui.

“My mom was the third daughter in the big family,” she added.

Rev Lim was born in 1881, and was called to the Sacred Ministry when he was in his 50s. He had worked for many years as a cashier in both the Chinese Bank and in the Opium Monopolies Department of the Government. He was ordained Deacon in 1936, and Priest the following year by Bishop of Labuan and Sarawak, Rt. Reverend Noel Hudson. He ministered in Kuching, even through the Japanese Occupation when he risked threat of imprisonment.

Reverend Lim died in 1959 at the age of 78. He is survived by his wife, his son Lim Eng Kee, daughter-in-law and four daughters (Ngui Ah Shin, Lai Chong Kiat, Ong Guan Tee, Goh Hock Guan), 30 grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.The collection of photographs on exhibit of Reverend Lim and his family are part of his family’s personal collection of photographs.Meanwhile, an Advisory Board Member of Society Atelier Sarawak, Datin Sri Garnet Ridu, launched the Sarawak Photo-Heritage Hunt 2004 held at the Sarawak Museum lobby yesterday. The exhibition, to run until 19 September is jointly organised by the Sarawak Museum, Society Atelier Sarawak, Sarawak Tribune, SAINS and Lim Kok Wing Institute of Creative Technology.

Also present at the launching were the President of Sarawak Atelier Society Edric Ong, Dato’ Sri Robert Jacob Ridu and Sarawak Museum Deputy Director Ipoi Datan.The exhibition, which comprises of old photographs from the Museum and members of Society Atelier Sarawak also displays old photographs, which include the works from the Charles Hose collection, Dennis Lau, Ho Ah Chon, Hedda Morrison and others.One of highlights of the exhibition is the amateur candid photos taken by home camera - catching moments of special occasions in the family such as weddings, birthdays and other special celebrations. There are also personal photos of family members as well as rare ones.