THE www.eurasians.org JANUARY 2009 A Caring Community in Tough Times WHAT’S INSIDE Volunteers in Action: Packing Hampers for FSS Interviews with Volunteers Christina, Monica and Sylvia Focus on Youth: Launching the Young Leaders Network Pre-teen Footballers excel along with Dragon Boat racers Our caring volunteers Christina and Monica THE MINISTER COMMUNITY BONDING ADVISORY PANEL MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE Representing the Eurasians in Cabinet Terence Shepherdson Mr. George Yeo Caroline de Guzman President Lionel de Souza Edward D’Silva Patron Vincent Schoon Herman R. Hochstadt Carol Pereira Vice President Dr. Barry P. Pereira Trustees LEGAL ADVISORY PANEL Oscar Oliveiro William Jansen Hon Secretary Barry Desker Michael Palmer Harry B. Pereira Timothy de Souza Martin Marini Joseph F. Conceicao Hon Treasurer FINANCE ADVISORY PANEL Zafran Coelho AUDIT COMMITTEE Colin Meyer (resigned on 21 December 2008) Po’ad Mattar Jean Pereira Lynn Desker Kevin Scully Burton Westerhout (co-opted with effect from 1 January 2009) Chad Olsen Daryl Pereira CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS Hon Asst Secretary ADVISORY PANEL Christine Clunies-Ross FUND RAISING COMMITTEE Warren Fernandez Francis Remedios Dawn Westerhout Committee Members Gerard Peacock Angelina Fernandez Khoo Yvonne Marie Pereira Dr. Ralph Stanley Geoffrey Da Silva Humphrey De Conceicao Carla J. Barker What’s Inside Christian Eber 03 AT THE HELM 12 MISCELLANY EA SECRETARIAT Navigating The Job Market President’s Message Director Operations Lester Low 04 ASSOCIATION NEWS 13 COMMUNITY GST Offset Package 2008 FSS Christmas Party Senior Operations Executive Chase Lim Boon Seng “Ray of Hope” Jingkli Nona Gets New Upbeat Tempo Thrift Shop & Movie Screening at ECH Chingay Parade 2009 Team Secretary IPC Status Six Eurasian Students Receive Buddhist Cecilia Sim Corrections Lodge Bursary Awards Regular Happenings Donation of Clothes and Household Items Education/Heritage Executive Bring Christmas Cheer Therese Thompson 06 FOCUS ON VOLUNTEERS Corporate Communications Executive Interviews with Monica, Christina and Sylvia 15 RECENT EVENTS Moira Ong Volunteers in Action: Packing Hampers for FSS EA/SRC Combined Games 2008 Women’s Wing Sunday Brunch FSS Executives J. Ramakrishnan 08 ACHIEVERS Celebrates Oktoberfest cum Halloween Florence Adriano Sunday Lunch Celebrates Life in the Foreign Service “Grease” Movie Theme EA Soccer School Wins Big at APSSO 2008 Events/Facility Executive Quest for Rowing Glory Ageing Safely and Artfully are Talk Topics Sugiman Rahmat Eurasian 1st Runner-up in Executive Look Family Christmas Carnival Silver Circle’s Christmas Dinner and Dance Volunteer/Membership Executive Tengku Alawiyah (Alia) 10 FOCUS ON YOUTH SRC Joins EA in Celebrating Christmas New Year’s Eve Tradition Lives On MYLN Inaugural Network Night Truly Takes Off Front Desk Assistant/Security Networking at Wine Party Le Réseau Walter Pinto The Twohill Siblings Get NUS Student Awards Just For YOUth EDITORIAL TEAM Edward D’Silva (Advisor) CONTRIBUTORS: Christian Eber (Chairman) Christine Clunies-Ross Articles in this issue are contributed by Yvonne Pereira, Martha Shepherdson, Zaf Coelho, Zaf Coelho Humphrey de Conceicao, Harry Pereira, Christopher Gordon, Christine Clunies-Ross, Martin Gabriel, Lester Low Therese Thompson, Moira Ong and K.C. Yuen Therese Thompson Moira Ong K.C. Yuen The Eurasian Association, Singapore (Established July 1919) 139 Ceylon Road, Singapore 429744 Tel: 6447 1578 Fax: 6447 3189 Email: [email protected] MICA (P) 241/07/2008 AT THE HELM President’s Message “You know, there’s something about us Eurasians. While many have done well in various activities — in sports, the professions and the arts scene — it’s not unusual that some of us have encountered difficulties in life’s journey, and along the way, may need assistance. That’s where we keep a look out for one another, and as an association, we want to play our part.” Dear Friends, So in this issue we have a few articles pages of this issue of The New Eurasian. about some Eurasian volunteers, helping Coming back to Education, we do have In the last issue of The New Eurasian, others quietly, in their own way, and if some late bloomers in primary and we emphasised Better Education and not for the “kay-poh-ness” in some of us, secondary schools who need tuition highlighted the achievements of our their stories will never be told. We salute givers to help them in some subjects. Do young people. In this issue we’d like to them. We hold them up as role models. come forward, if you are able to give a few talk about building a Caring Community, We are looking for more such volunteers hours to our youngsters. as we enter a new year fraught with grave or befrienders, to deliver food and other uncertainties. These are the twin pillars essentials, visit the shut-ins, extend a The message here is that, in these difficult that the Eurasian Association would like helping hand to the less fortunate. times, we now need more volunteers to to focus on as we start our 90th year as a come forward. So if you have some spare unique organisation founded in 1919. These volunteers do it because they time, please do contact us, especially care. And the reward, they tell us, is that our FSS staff: Florence, Ram or Alia. Eight months ago, when I assumed the wonderful warm feeling one gets after Volunteers are also needed in the other presidency of the EA, the world looked doing something good. It’s that feel-good Units: Women’s Wing, Silver Circle and quite normal. But we ended 2008 with factor and it’s priceless. We at EA have a the Performing Arts Chapter. There are unprecedented problems of a global unit that does just that, week in week out, some wonderful people working tirelessly economic downturn. Tough times are ahead. and if you have that desire to join us, do in the various committees now. Together We in Singapore are a resilient society, a contact our Family Support Services (FSS) with our small staff team, we can make multi-racial mix of many races. We in the or simply give a call to Florence or Ram the Eurasian Association a vibrant Eurasian community are the inheritors of a at 6447 1578 or email us at members@ organisation. We need YOU! cultural mix that’s quite unique, of east and eurasians.org. west, of Europe and Asia. This leads me to something close to our We have lots of other activities too, besides hearts and coming up sooner than you You know, there’s something about FSS and Educational Services (contact think! It’s our 90th anniversary celebrations us Eurasians. While many have done person is Therese): the Women’s Wing, in June/July this year. In the next issue of well in various activities – in sports, the Silver Circle and Performing Arts Chapter. The New Eurasian that comes out in April, professions and the arts scene -- it’s not And now there’s a new group, the Young we will have lots of details to share with unusual that some of us have encountered Professional Adults, forming the Mentoring you, including our Gala Extravaganza at difficulties in life’s journey, and along the Young Leaders Network (contact Sybil the Esplanade and a related major fund- way, may need assistance. That’s where Rocha, the Group’s chairperson, or Zaf raising event. So keep a look out. Until we keep a look out for one another, and as Coelho). You can find more details in the then, here’s wishing all our members the an association, we want to play our part. best in the New Year. See you around more often in the Eurasian Community House. Edward D’Silva President, The Eurasian Association 2 January 2009 04 ASSOCIATION NEWS GST Offset “Ray of Hope” IPC Status The Education Committee of the Eurasian Package 2008 Association would be presenting vouchers, The Eurasian Association, having funded under the auspices of the Opportunity been awarded the IPC status and being a Community Self-Help Group In an attempt to refine a number of Fund provided by the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports. working for the public benefit, has safety nets for the elderly and the needy given emphasis on transparency in our community, the Government Under the Progress Package [Budget 2006] and good governance. The last has set aside a programme called the issue (October) of The New Eurasian ‘GST Offset Package’. This is given the Government allocated $2m for Self- Help Groups to set up Opportunity Funds. announced the formation of three out through the Association to assist Committees i.e, Mandatory Audit families who may need additional The $2m will be disbursed as matching grants to the SHGs. Committee, Finance Advisory Panel support to meet the rising cost of living. and our Corporate Communications The EA is matching this package dollar- Advisory Panel. for-dollar. Project “Ray of Hope” aims to help defray the cost of education through the purchase This issue, we are proud to announce On 23 November, the Family Support of study guides, assessment books, stationery and shoes to families in need of that another two committees have Services hosted a luncheon for 150 been formed. They are Fund-Raising Clients and their immediate family assistance. Popular and Bata vouchers would be distributed to about 100 children Committee and Community Bonding members. The Women’s Wing and Advisory Panel. Performing Arts Chapter provided the in Primary, Secondary and Tertiary level who entertainment, joined by the Clients’ are currently listed in our database under children. Family Support Services and Education. As part of our Christmas activities The event will take place on Saturday, 17 under the FSS, we felt it was a good January 2009 at 2.00pm at the Eurasian time to make the first disbursement Community House.