The Olympic Spirit Eurasian Sporting Heroes, Past and Present
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1 July - September 2010 • The New Eurasian www.eurasians.org.sg JULY – SEPTEMBER 2010 The Olympic Spirit Eurasian sporting heroes, past and present PLUS SINGLE MINDED A new project gives hope to disadvantaged lone parents IN THE FRAME How one film-maker would write the Eurasian story YOUNG AT HEART Active Ager Ruby Ng is an inspiration to young and old alike ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING REPORT Meet the new team EEAA JJuly-Sepuly-Sep 22010.indd010.indd 1 77/24/10/24/10 1:281:28 PPMM MICA2 (P) 187/07/2009 July - September 2010 • The New Eurasian CONTENTS AT THE HELM FSS 03 President’s message 14 New help for single parents NEWS 15 A little EA support helps lead to great achievements 04 Report of the annual general meeting How to be a foster parent 06 Dancing to a different beat News in brief CULTURE AND HERITAGE 16 Celebrating the Portuguese legacy One woman’s search for her past EDUCATION 06 Bookworms, lions and eagles 17 A new look at the Eurasian story 07 New doors open for ambitious students PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY 18 A role model for the young-at-heart COVER STORY A happy, busy retirement 08 Travis Woodford’s Youth Olympic hopes 19 How to enjoy your senior years See your Eurasian family recipes in print 10 Sunday lunch with friends 20 Book your National Day celebration Cool classes for kids who want to dance 08 10 The man in charge of the Youth Olympic Games menus 11 Our history of sporting heroes 12 The glory days of football’s Malaysia Cup ON THE COVER YOUTH Travis Woodford, one of Singapore’s 13 Confi dent public speaking Youth Olympic Games squad MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE SECRETARIAT THE MINISTER Representing the Eurasians in Cabinet President Director of Operations Mr George Yeo William Jansen Lester Low Patron Vice-President Team Secretary Herman R Hochstadt Benett Theseira Cecilia Sim Trustees Honorary Secretary Education/Heritage Executive Oscar Oliveiro Jason Peter Dendroff Jacqueline Peeris Barry Desker Honorary Treasurer FSS Executives (Family Support Services) Timothy de Souza Lynn Desker Florence Adriano Joseph F Conceicao Gerald Minjoot J Ramakrishnan Committee Members Gerry de Silva Carla Jacqueline Barker Corporate Communications Executive Francesca Eber Rachel Chen AUDIT COMMITTEE Yvonne Marie Pereira Accountant Kevin Scully Vincent Schoon Peter Teo Chad Olsen Geoffrey da Silva Daryl Pereira Burton Westerhout Events/Ops Executive Elizabeth Han FUND-RAISING COMMITTEE Front Desk Assistant/Security Francis Remedios EDITORIAL TEAM Walter Pinto Ralph Stanley Benett Theseira (Chairperson) LEGAL ADVISORY PANEL Rebecca Morris (Editor) CONTRIBUTORS Martin Marini (Chair) John de Souza Michael Palmer Peter Rodrigues Maurice Lin; Peter Rodrigues; Susan de Silva Rachel Chen Yvonne Pereira. William da Silva (Established July 1919) 139 Ceylon Road, Singapore 429744 Tel: 6447 1578 Fax: 6447 3189 Email: [email protected] EEAA JJuly-Sepuly-Sep 22010.indd010.indd 2 77/24/10/24/10 1:281:28 PPMM At the helm 3 July - September 2010 • The New Eurasian President’s message I am honoured to have been elected We are pleased with the progress we President of the Eurasian Association have made in education and welfare, and will do my utmost to safeguard but there is still much to be done the wellbeing and interest of members, for our community to improve the standards of Eurasians in Singapore. and of the Eurasian community We need more volunteers and Eurasian in Singapore. youths and young professionals to step forward to help us. I have been involved with the EA for 18 years, and I am aware of what we The next two years will be challenging have achieved so far and what still for the EA, especially with regard to needs to be done. education, family support services and community bonding. Our priorities include educational To assist us, we will be getting a chief advancement, welfare assistance executive officer, the cost of which and community bonding. I will will be partly underwritten by the work together with the management government. This will insure that we committee to further these interests. will have help to run the EA more professionally. Fiscal management is very important now that corporate The EA’s focus all through these governance measures for charities are years has been to seek opportunities, in force. We must make sure that capitalise on situations offered, and our money is spent wisely and muster the support of as many people responsibly so that the balance in our as possible. As we reach out to our books is explainable. community, we hope more people will come forward and answer the call for May I ask you all to kindly complete help. There is a place for anyone who and return the enclosed form so that we can update our members’ details? wishes to contribute their time to the This will enable us to provide a more Eurasian Association. efficient service to you all. Our vision is to create a strong, vibrant Let us build a better and stronger Eurasian community; a cohesive, self- EA and never lose sight of our reliant community that looks forward cultural heritage. to the future while celebrating our cultural heritage. We are striving to increase membership to bring the community closer, to bring a sense of belonging, and to increase our profile with regard to the other communities William (Bill) Jansen, in Singapore. President EEAA JJuly-Sepuly-Sep 22010.indd010.indd 3 77/24/10/24/10 1:281:28 PPMM 4 News July - September 2010 • The New Eurasian AGM report Some 80 members attended the EA Annual Susan de Silva explains the new resolutions to members at the AGM General Meeting 2010 on 30 April to elect the members of the new management committee and to vote on 19 new resolutions proposed for the rules of the EA. They included the appointment of two vice presidents instead of one, the removal of lifetime terms for trustees, the increase in the number of trustees and the provision of more than one patron. All the resolutions were passed with the exception of Resolution 2.7.17 (“to simplify the eligibility criteria for appointment as Patron(s)”). While most members accepted the allowance of more than one patron, many voiced concern from the floor that the amendment allowed for a non-Eurasian patron. The resolution went to a vote via a show of hands, with 43 in favour of passing the new amendment and 38 against. As this represented only 53 per cent of the members present, short of the two-thirds necessary to pass the motion, Resolution 2.7.17 was not adopted. The new management committee was sworn in, outgoing president Edward D’Silva was thanked for his service to the association, and new EA President William Jansen delivered Left to right: Lynn Desker, Geoffrey his acceptance speech. The evening ended da Silva, Yvonne Pereira and with a buffet dinner at Quentin’s restaurant. Burton Westerhout Thanks for a job well done The EA’s new management committee has • Padang earthquake relief president from 2008 to 2010 and as vice- put on record its thanks to the outgoing team, • The setting up of the Toastmasters Club president from 2006 to 2008. which has provided an invaluable service • A Jingkli Nona music video to the Eurasian Association and the wider • Themed Sunday brunches Mr D’Silva’s most memorable contribution Eurasian community during its years of office • The establishment of the Mentoring to the Eurasian Association has been the from 2008 to 2010. Young Leaders Network Eurasian Community House, which is now • Annual National Day, Christmas and an iconic landmark in Singapore. New Year celebrations The new committee says that its predecessors He took on the task of managing and worked to benefit the lives of Eurasians overseeing the project of setting up the in Singapore, and to take the Eurasian On behalf of the Eurasian Association, the incoming committee would like to thank the ECH after Randall Snodgrass suffered a Association to a higher status. previous team for its service: Edward D’Silva; stroke and had to drop out. Barry Pereira; Harry Pereira; Lynn Desker; During the management committee’s two- Christine Clunies-Ross; Carla Barker; Zaf Using his experience as an architect, his year term, the association saw highlights Coelho; Humphrey de Conceicao; Christian talents in driving projects forward, and his such as: Eber; Yvonne Pereira; Geoffrey da Silva; wide circle of public and private contacts, Burton Westerhout. Edward was part of the team that gave the • Chingay 2009 Eurasian community a permanent base, a • Eurasiana – A Musical Tribute Members also paid special tribute to outgoing home in Katong of which the Eurasian • The EA’s 90th anniversary celebrations president Edward D’Silva, who served as community can be proud. EEAA JJuly-Sepuly-Sep 22010.indd010.indd 4 77/24/10/24/10 1:281:28 PPMM News 5 July - September 2010 • The New Eurasian Meet the team Introducing the new management committee William (Bill) Jansen, President Francesca Eber, Committee Member A retired lawyer, Bill worked for 38 years Previously serving the EA as a volunteer in in litigation and commercial practice, the Family Support Services, Francesca is specialising in contract, sale of goods, a self-employed trainer and coach with 32 insurance, admiralty, banking and building years’ experience. contract work. She currently chairs the EA Family Support At the EA, he served as honorary secretary Services Sub-committee. in 1992 and again from 1994 to 1996. From 1999 to 2009 he chaired the EA Legal Advisory Panel. Yvonne Pereira, Committee Member Currently serving her second term as a Benett Theseira, Vice-President management committee member, Yvonne Benett heads the private equity real estate previously chaired the EA’s Silver Circle and investment business for the Pacific Star Group in Asia.