Sabah Most Wanted

Sabah's Grand Dame of Art still surprises at 99!

Sabah's Grand Dame of Art still surprises at 99!
Published on: Thursday, June 16, 2016
Kota Kinabalu: The launch of the book on the Hoya plant species in Borneo at Hyatt Kinabalu on Tuesday had a pleasant surprise when artist and educationist Tina Rimmer showed up, being an invited guest. The Keembong Room erupted with cheers, forcing publisher of "Hoyas of Borneo" Datuk CL Chan to halt his speech halfway to announce the presence of the frail but still agile Tina at 99!
"I would like to acknowledge somebody who is very special, who doesn't really come to occasions like this anymore.
She first came to North Borneo in 1949 as the first British North Borneo woman Education Officer and is the author of several books such as "A Life on Two Islands", "The Tamaparuli Tamu: A Sabah Market", etc."
Chan then announced that "she is also going celebrate her 99th birthday very soon and I would like all of you to sing her a very birthday song!"
Sang they did even though two weeks in advance.
Chan also said he would be writing to Buckingham Palace to inform the Queen to sign a letter and send it to her (Tina).
Buckingham Palace has a department which sends congratulation letters from the monarch to centenarians and they normally do it several months before the 100th birthday. The Queen, herself, turned 90 recently.
When asked how she managed to beat the Queen by nine years, Tina said: "I think the secret is to find an interest in life."
Tina has done close to 1,000 paintings to her credit, including a 192-page book featuring 550 portraits of palliative care patients that was praised for "bringing out the inner beauty of the children" and reflects her intense dedication to the people of Sabah.
Asked what exactly she meant by "interest in life", besides painting, she said: "Interest in people and your surroundings in general."
Did diet play a role in her longevity?
"No, it's not a matter of diet, it's a matter of wanting to see what's happening tomorrow!!" she laughed in her characteristic "ha ha ha".
What about exercise then? "No, normal exercise, walking yes. One thing is to have good parents.
That's the Number One thing – to have good parents. That's Number One absolutely.
DE: Why do you say that?
Tina: One thing is the physical part, because you got to have a body that functions.
DE: You mean genetics ?
Tina: Yes , Genetics. Then loving parents, you got to have loving parents who are interested in their children what they do, what they are interested in life in general, give guidance and have standards you know.
Asked why she decided to stay on long after British North Borneo became Sabah under Malaysia, she said:
"I got married to a man Bert Rimmer who wanted to stay back. So, I stayed back."
For the record, Tina bought a five-acre piece native land near the famed Tamparuli bridge with the intention of having a Arts centre set up there during her lifetime to promote indigenous artists, as her gift to the people of Sabah.
However, the centre had yet to materialise despite 30 years and several public pledges since the ownership in trust was passed to ex-Museum Director Patricia Regis.
Tina's relatives in the United Kingdom had also expressed concern that her wishes should be honoured.
Daily Express understands that the Lands and Surveys Department was aware of the history of the land and had no objections to a caveat on it to ensure that the purpose that Tina had intended it for was fulfilled in future but the State Tourism, Culture and Environment Ministry must officially request for it.