1. Elizabeth Choy Su-Moi was a Singaporean educator and councillor who is regarded as a war heroine in Singapore.
18 Facts About Elizabeth Choy
1. 2.
Elizabeth Choy was born in a Hakka family in Kudat, North Borneo.
3.
The eldest of 11 children, Elizabeth Choy's father worked as a civil servant after completing his early education in China with some English education in North Borneo, where he married the daughter of a priest.
4.
Elizabeth Choy transferred to work in Jesselton and was later promoted to District Officer and he moved to Kalimantan.
5.
Elizabeth Choy was raised by a Kadazan nanny and acquired Kadazan as her first language.
6.
Elizabeth Choy became an Anglican at St Monica's Boarding School in Sandakan, where she adopted the name "Elizabeth", and went on to pursue higher education in Raffles College in Singapore.
7.
Elizabeth Choy was a volunteer nurse with the Medical Auxiliary Service.
8.
At the Japanese surrender in Singapore in September 1945, Elizabeth Choy was invited by Lady Mountbatten to witness the official ceremony, where she was escorted by the governor, Sir Shenton Thomas, and his wife, to whom she had sent medicine in Changi Prison.
9.
Intent on studying art but without the finances for this venture, Elizabeth Choy began a stint as an artist's model, posing for two sculptures, "Serene Jade" and "Flawless Crystal", by the sculptor Dora Gordine.
10.
On returning to Singapore in 1949, Elizabeth Choy resumed teaching and became involved in the political developments preceding Singapore's independence.
11.
Elizabeth Choy stood in the election in December 1950 for the West Ward.
12.
From 1951 to 1955, Elizabeth Choy was nominated by the Governor to the Legislative Council of Singapore, where she spoke frequently on behalf of the poor and needy, and campaigned for the development of social services and family planning.
13.
Elizabeth Choy later stood for elections in Queenstown but retired from politics thereafter.
14.
Elizabeth Choy's teaching career at St Andrew's School continued until 1974, except for a four-year spell as the first principal, as well as a teacher, at the Singapore School for the Blind from 1956.
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Elizabeth Choy continued with social work and school visits into her 90s, impressing young Singaporeans with the need to maintain strong national defence.
16.
Elizabeth Choy was noted for wearing traditional Chinese and Indian clothing, qipaos and bangles, which earned her the nickname "Dayak Woman of Singapore".
17.
Elizabeth Choy died from pancreatic cancer in 2006 at the age of 95.
18.
On 11 September 1995, a column on Elizabeth Choy, titled "She paid 40 cents for me to have this picture", was published in the Singapore newspaper The Straits Times.