Goh: Hobbies can be an avenue for youths to divert their attention from negative emotions and to end the monotony of a routine schedule.
FOR anyone visiting Bobby Goh’s house, it is impossible not to notice the vast array of collectible aeroplane models mounted in various positions behind glass panels of the display cabinets in his foyer.
His collection of over 200 miniature aircraft which come in a myriad of designs and sizes from all over the world are not just for show; they in fact bear testament to his enduring love for aviation, which has spanned over four decades.
It all began for Goh at age six, when his mother introduced him to his first aviation film entitled The Concorde... Airport ‘79.
“I was mesmerised by the sleek beauty of the aeroplanes as they swerved in the skies.
“I was particularly fascinated by how the pilots manoeuvred the planes so skilfully and smoothly to evade the bullets from the enemies,” he told StarEdu.
“As much as music is art, aeroplanes are my definition of art. When the planes fly in the sky, they are like poetry in motion,” he enthused.
As real-life aircraft were a rare sight back then, Goh treated himself to constant views of them by sketching and colouring aeroplanes on any piece of parchment he could get his hands on.
This continued throughout his teenage years where he even submitted his aeroplane designs to airlines with the hope that they would be considered for use.
He also recalls buying aviation magazines at every chance he had and cutting out pictures to paste in his very own aircraft scrapbooks.
“From these magazines, I learnt a lot about aerospace technology and the technical aspects of aviation.
“I still keep some of the magazines, such as the editions which commemorated special events concerning a certain airline, and those with additional descriptions of an aeroplane,” he shared.
Another memory Goh remembers fondly is that of his father obliging him with occasional visits to the airport just to watch aeroplane takeoffs and landings.
His father, he added, even took him on a return trip from Singapore to Penang onboard a Boeing 747 after he had sat for the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM). But it was only in the 2000s when miniature aeroplane models were designed in “more refined detail” that Goh started his collection, which he acquired through online and physical store purchases, as gifts from family members, and as gifts from airlines.These miniature models, said Goh, were his way of making up for his inability to see real-life aeroplanes at the airport whenever he wanted to.
Some of these models, he added, carry sentimental value for him.
“The Korean Air 777, for instance, reminds me of my first family trip to South Korea.
“And the Firefly ATR 72 makes me reminisce about the many flights I took between Penang and Kuala Lumpur to visit my wife and children on weekends many years ago,” he shared.
Some, on the other hand, are simply a beauty for Goh to behold.
He remembers being so fascinated by the Singapore Airlines A310 that he caught sight of at Langkawi International Airport decades ago that he was “desperately” late to head home.
The models, some of which he stores in boxes above the display cabinets, are mostly die-cast, which means there are no moving parts on them and this reduces the risk of damage to his collection, he explained.
“Occasionally, some flaws can be found on the models, such as the imbalance of wings, the window line distance percentage ratio from above the wings, the wheel shape and the engine configuration.
“But I’m generally not that particular about these slight imperfections. As long as they are affordable, I’m perfectly content with what I have,” he said.
A true aircraft enthusiast, Goh shows extensive knowledge of the historical, cultural and functional value of his model collection.
“Alitalia, for example, is an Italian airline no longer in operation. Braniff International Airways was one of the pioneers in vibrant aeroplane colour schemes.
“Qantas has emblazoned indigenous art of the Australian aboriginal people on their aeroplane bodies. The Royal Flying Doctor Service is an air medical service based in Australia,” he quipped.
On the evolution of modern airliners, Goh noted that aeroplanes nowadays have plainer colours and are built with an average of two engines, as compared to the aeroplanes of the 1980s which came with more engines and had more complex and vibrant colours.
“I understand that efficiency takes precedence, but I’m truly glad that I grew up in the 1980s, when the aeroplane designs had more variety and were more exciting.”
Not content with just collecting aircraft models and reading aviation books, Goh attended a flight simulator session in Sydney, Australia, in 2014.
Even though it lasted only 15 minutes, it offered him “the closest thing to flying an aeroplane”, which was his childhood dream.
“I was dazzled by the display of lights, buttons and switches in the cockpit. The immersive and enjoyable experience was not something the books could provide.
“During the session, I found myself already familiar with the hundreds of flight instruments before me, as I’d previously pored over the technical aspects. “The assisting pilot taught me how to take off and land a plane, while I held onto the control wheel,” said Goh, who hopes to take flying lessons after his retirement from the medical field.
“Hobbies come and go for me throughout the years, but my passion for aircraft has never been extinguished by changing times. Aeroplanes define a part of me, and always will,” he asserted.
Extolling the benefits of having hobbies, Goh said they can be an avenue for youths to divert their attention from negative emotions and to end the monotony of a routine schedule.
“Hobbies occasionally provide additional income, get youths out of their comfort zones and, more importantly, lead to self-discovery as they can learn about their respective capacities.
“My hobby drove me into research and skill acquisition, like reading heavily on aeroplanes, problem-solving and designing aeroplanes from my own imagination,” he said.
“However, hobbies can be expensive and time-consuming, so youths must set their priorities right,” he cautioned.
Li Lian, 17, a student in Kuala Lumpur, is a participant of the BRATs Young Journalist Programme run by The Star’s Newspaper-in-Education (Star-NiE) team.
Now that you have read the article, test your understanding by carrying out the following English language activities.
1. What are three adjectives that you would use to describe Goh as a hobbyist? Give reasons for each of the adjectives you have chosen for him.
2. Based on the article, form five questions you would ask Goh in a face-to-face interview. With an activity partner, prepare his response to the questions. Then, role-play the interview. You may even record yourselves doing the role-play so that you may review your performance at the end of the activity.
3. What is your favourite hobby? Describe it to your activity partner without naming the hobby. Is he or she able to guess it correctly at the first attempt? Keep going until your activity partner gets the right answer. Have fun!
Since 1997, The Star’s Newspaper-in-Education (Star-NiE) programme has supported English language teaching and learning in primary and secondary schools nationwide. Now in its 25th year, Star-NiE is continuing its role of promoting the use of English language through a weekly activity page in StarEdu. In addition, Star-NiE’s BRATs Young Journalist Programme will continue to be a platform for participants to hone and showcase their English language skills, as well as develop their journalistic interests and instincts. Follow our updates at facebook.com/niebrats. For Star-NiE enquiries, email starnie@thestar.com.my.
