www.eurasians.org.sg OCTOBER – DECEMBER 2009 Harmony at home Strengthening ties PLUS Local honour for international Eurasian Pg 4 within and beyond the Eurasian community New ruling promotes Eurasians Pg 5 Pg 10 Academic achievement reaps awards Pg 6 Soccer targets racial harmony Pg 21 CONTENTS MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE President 03 AT THE HELM 15 VOLUNTEERS Edward D’Silva President’s message Becoming a ‘true’ Eurasian Lanette Conceicao steps out into new role Vice President 04 NEWS Sara de Souza mentors EA youth Dr Barry P Pereira Appointment of new trustees Minister Tharman visits ECH 16 FOCUS New EA councillor in Northeast Minister clarifies Eurasian rule Hon Secretary Harry B Pereira 05 Renowned Eurasian accepts EA honour 17 Reflections on wartime bravery Raising $1 million for the community Hon Treasurer Toastmasters’ triumph 18 PEOPLE Lynn Desker Remembering Rex Shelley 06 EDUCATION Goetz siblings surface with honours Asst Hon Secretary Annual ECF Awards Ceremony Mary Gomes’ tasteful new venture Christine Clunies-Ross 07 Promoting academic excellence 19 Judith D’Silva receives National Day award Reaching out to students Committee Members Scholarship for high-flying student 20 A look back at St Joseph’s Institution Yvonne Marie Pereira Cheryl’s life is East-West fusion Geoffrey Da Silva 08 FSS Humphrey De Conceicao A great paint job 21 COMMUNITY Carla J Barker Fair play leads to racial harmony Christian Eber 09 Community Care fund programmes Zoe proves she’s balut’s best Zafran Coelho (co-opted) Lessons outside of the classroom Charity dance jamboree Burton Westerhout (co-opted) Rachel’s artistic science 10 COVER STORY Coming together in harmony 22 EA’s 90th anniversary – inter-cultural events Commemorating the King of Pop EA SECRETARIAT Reception at the Istana 14 YOUTH Director of Operations Leaders’ network first anniversary 23 Upcoming events Lester Low Tea at the university Inter-racial dialogue Team Secretary Cecilia Sim THE MINISTER Representing the Eurasians in Cabinet COMMUNITY BONDING ADVISORY PANEL Education/Heritage Executive Mr George Yeo Terence Shepherdson (chair) Caroline de Guzman Jacqueline Anne Peeris Patron Lionel de Souza Herman R Hochstadt Carol Pereira Corporate Communications Executive Trustees Vincent Schoon Moira Ong Oscar Oliveiro Barry Desker LEGAL ADVISORY PANEL Events / Operations Executive Timothy de Souza Martin Marini (chair) Patch Tan Joseph F Conceicao William da Silva Gerald Minjoot Susan de Silva FSS Executives Gerry de Silva William Jansen Florence Adriano Michael Palmer J Ramakrishnan AUDIT COMMITTEE Po’ad Mattar (chair) COMMUNICATIONS ADVISORY PANEL Events/Facility Executive Chad Olsen Warren Fernandez (chair) Sugiman Rahmat Daryl Pereira Angelina Fernandez Khoo Kevin Scully Dawn Westerhout Volunteer/Membership Executive FUND RAISING COMMITTEE Education Advisory Panel Lorraine Bligh Francis Remedios (chair) Winston James Hodge (chair) Gerard Peacock Dr Vilma D’Rozario Accountant Dr Ralph Stanley Sara de Souza Desmond Hang Dr Alexius Anthony Pereira FINANCE ADVISORY PANEL Karen Louise Pereira Front Desk Assistant/Security Colin Meyer (chair) Walter Pinto Jean Pereira Burton Westerhout EDITORIAL TEAM CONTRIBUTORS Florence Adriano, Christine Clunies-Ross, Zaf Coelho, Humphrey Conceicao, John de Souza, Christian Edward D’Silva (advisor) Eber, John Kwok, Charlene Lee, Lester Low, Moira Ong, Jacqueline Peeris, Harry Pereira, Yvonne Pereira, Christian Eber (chair) Sybil Rocha, Crispin Rodrigues, Denise Theseira, Kenneth Thexeira, Burton Westerhout. Rebecca Morris (editor) On the cover: Guests come together at the National Day Observance Ceremony John de Souza Judith Holmberg Lester Low The Eurasian Association, Singapore (Established July 1919) Moira Ong 139 Ceylon Road, Singapore 429744 Peter Rodrigues Tel: 6447 1578 Fax: 6447 3189 Email: [email protected] MICA (P) 187/07/2009 AT THE HELM 3 President’s message As we approach the end of the year – a special • promote the importance of education year that has included many celebrations to • nurture new leaders and strengthen the mark the Eurasian Association’s historic 90th community’s role in society anniversary – now is a good time to take stock • improve our family support services of past achievements and to look ahead. • establish programmes and activities that Specifically, it is an ideal opportunity to set strengthen the bonds among ourselves out our aspirations and challenges for the next and with others decade, which will not only take the association • boost the EA’s membership into our centenary but will also mark the 200th • encourage greater participation by the EA anniversary of Singapore’s founding by Sir in community life. Stamford Raffles. Our cover story this issue focuses on the The fortunes of the association have fluctuated theme of harmony, reporting on a number of over the decades, but in recent years our small events that prove that there is always more community has worked successfully towards that unites our different communities than ever being recognised as a vibrant force in society, divides us. with the characteristics that make us both There is a new generation of Eurasians uniquely Eurasian and Singaporean. arising from mixed marriages between the new The government has acknowledged the intake of foreigners on our shores and the local importance of the nation’s Eurasians and has population. The children from these unions are bestowed generous grants on the association. now recognised legally as Eurasians and we Now we need to build on that. That means putting report on the government’s new ruling. aside petty squabbles and insular views in order We feature news of a new Merit Bursary to pull together. If we are indifferent to our culture Award for outstanding students and the Eurasian and the contribution it makes to Singapore, we Community Fund education awards. will lose our precious Eurasian identity. So our And, not least of all, we have greatest challenge is to ensure that we create embarked upon an ambitious a future generation of Eurasian leaders to take $1 million fund-raising campaign. over, in due course, from our senior members, Some 70 per cent of this will and to develop an active grassroots community help schoolchildren in need and dedicated to continue our proud heritage. also support deserving students We have already established a number of through college. The remainder will successful programmes to encourage our youth help support those in need through to be leaders in their fields and we should build our Family Support Services. on these. Young people of today need all the help This issue features the important they can get to compete in the complex, global work by the Eurasian Association market place. We should recruit senior Eurasians in helping our own community, to volunteer as mentors, both to pass on their reaching out to others – and also experience and to foster a united community. having a lot of fun on the way. We need more Eurasians to come forward to Enjoy the read! volunteer their time or money – with sponsorship and donations if possible – or simply to spend time with those in need. In the decade ahead, we should set ourselves specific goals to: Edward D’Silva President, The Eurasian Association 1 October 2009 4 NEWS Appointment of trustees The EA has appointed two new Mr de Silva, the EA’s immediate past trustees: Mr Gerald Minjoot and Mr president, says his new role will be Gerry de Silva. very different. No longer responsible Mr Minjoot, a past EA president, for the day-to-day business of comes from a family with long running the association, “mine will be involvement with the EA and he a custodian role, where as a trustee himself has been an active member I will be responsible for the financial for some 15 years. He believes well-being of the EA and an advisor that within the constraints that a to the association”. small organisation such as the EA An active volunteer with the EA inevitably works, there is still room for more than 10 years, he believes for expansion. One major area is the profile of the EA has been on the education: he welcomes the new awards the association now rise for a number of years already and that members have been gives to promising students to support them through their making their presence felt in areas not normally associated with college life and help them to become the community leaders Eurasians, such as dragon boat racing. of tomorrow, and hopes that this programme can be expanded. There will always be work to be done at the EA, he admits, He is passionate about the need to recruit and involve younger but the foundations to meet future changes have been laid. members in the association: “I would like to see more of our Fundamentally, it means a continuation and deepening of younger Eurasians taking part in activities and taking control”, interaction within the Eurasian community and between Eurasians he says, pointing out wryly that if the association is to thrive, and Singaporeans of other races. there is no option: “The older members aren’t going to be here Mr de Silva admits that the new Singapore Eurasians will forge forever.” He would also like to see the EA’s finances put on a a different community from the Eurasian community of today, but firmer footing so that it can plan ahead with more certainty. sees this as an interesting and probably positive development. Now retired, Mr Minjoot used to work in the electronics “The Eurasians of the future, many of whom will be from different industry where, he said, events moved at a fast pace, giving him backgrounds from the traditional community, will be better the experience to work flexibly in a changing environment. And educated and have more of an internationalist mindset – they he has high hopes for the future of the EA. “I’m an optimist,” he will be quite different from my generation and it will be good for smiles, “my glass is always half full.” Singapore,” he says.