ANZA Magazine January February 2022

WHAT’S ON

TOURS

SPORTS

OUT & ABOUT

CHECK OUT

YOUR STORIES

A U S T R A L I A N A N D N E W Z E A L A N D A S S O C I AT I O N

THE AUSTRALIAN & NEW ZEALAND ASSOCIATION January/February 2022

Singapore

Tips for new term prep Questions for teachers Stress-busting techniques Easy lunchbox ideas Your settle-back-in plan (for kids and adults!)

CULTURE CLUB

Meet expats inspired by Asian life

Feng shui your home JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022

ATTRACT HEALTH, WEALTH & HAPPINESS IN THE YEAR OF THE TIGER

WHAT TO DO IN

SINGAPORE

(when you think you’ve done it all!)

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NUTURING AND ENGAGING YOUNG MINDS 2 MONTHS TO 6 YEARS The Early Learning Village is a purposebuilt environment that has been developed exclusively for our youngest learners, from Infant Care to Prep.

Founded on the universal truth that the environment nurtures the child, the Early Learning Village is a place which captures the imagination of each and every child, encouraging them to make new discoveries and lead their own learning journey.

DID YOU KNOW? Our classrooms feature their own outdoor playgrounds, with sandpits, water play or activity tables and sensory play equipment.

INQUIRY BASED APPROACH IGNITING CURIOSITY The Village operates within the inquirybased philosophy of Reggio Emilia and the IB Primary Years Program, and provides the ideal environment for bright, enquiring young minds to play and learn. Adjoining the main AIS campus, the children and staff at the Village enjoy their own special world, while also remaining connected to the wider school community. The transition between the Early Learning Village and the main school environment is made seamless through the sharing of common values and principles across the two campuses.

DID YOU KNOW? Our Learning Space has a Swimming Pool, Library and Inquiry Centre, Multi-purpose Gym, Dance Studio, Medical Centre and Parent Café Our Child-sized Campus

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OUR SCHOOL WEEK IS AS INDIVIDUAL AS YOUR CHILD AND WORKS AROUND YOU Imagine a school day which is tailored to your needs, which allows you to organise your week in a way that suits both the needs of you and your child — the AIS Early Years program does just that.

SCAN ME Find out more

DID YOU KNOW? The Early Years program at AIS includes weekly: Mandarin, SmartSteps, Music, Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics

CONTACT To find out more please contact our friendly Admissions Team on admissions@ais.com.sg or 6653 2958

Globally focused, distinctly Australian

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A village to raise a child?

AIS Early Learning Village Have you visited the Early Learning Village located at the Australian International School Singapore?

If not, now is the time as enrolments are still open for the start of our academic year 24th January 2022. Whether you’re new to Singapore, new to parenthood or looking for a bespoke environment for your young one. We are here to help…

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E DI TOR’S NOTE

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e’ve made it to 2022! So, what happens now?

While I love the idea of a sparkly new year, I don’t know about you, but this time around I’m taking my attention away from the usual pressure and high expectations that comes with it. Resolutions? Bah! Me but better?

Definitely not. Instead, I’m entering the Year of the Tiger focusing on the solace and joy that familiarity can bring.

When I start to feel overwhelmed (by uncertainty, major life decisions, which shoes to wear, etc), I take myself somewhere on the island that always energizes me and reinstalls calm perhaps for a bike ride along the Green Corridor, with its open spaces and derelict buildings, or to the Kranji countryside where I walk the grassy paths between the vegetables.

I’m sure you have your top Singapore spots too. With this in mind, turn to page 21 to discover what some of the ANZA Executive Committee Members get up to in their free time.

Midnight bike rides while the Lion City is sleeping? Frog farms? You’ll find some great suggestions on what to do when you think you’ve done it all.

While we don’t know what’s around the corner (and that’s character-building, right?), one thing that is both imminent and guaranteed is the start of a new school year. As tots to teens grapple with a backpack, it’s parents who take on most of the planning. Check out our Back To School Special which is packed with helpful expert advice for all ages on acing newterm prep (p36), coping with change (p34), dealing with stress (40), and getting into the heads of the teachers (41).

We’ve even spared a thought for soggy sarnies and shared some creative lunchbox ideas on page 60.

With the kids ensconced in lessons after the break, we look forward to everyone slotting more ANZA activities into their re-vamped weekly schedules!

From cycling to soccer, netball to morning walks, most of our offerings are back on track despite the small group numbers, and we hope to have plenty of new happenings taking place as the months progress. Head to page 64 to learn more about what we get up to. If this all sounds too sporty, sign up to our Ladies Nights every Wednesday. As comfort is key, I’ll see you at the bar!

Jo Upcraft, Editor editor@anza.org.sg

GENERAL MANAGER & SPONSORSHIP Kerry Low gm@anza.org.sg

ACCOUNTS Ellie Mills accounts@anza.org.sg

WEBSITE Geoff King web@anza.org.sg

THE ANZA TEAM AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND ASSOCIATION 261A Beach Road, Singapore 199541 Hours: Mon–Fri, 9am–5pm +65 6291 6301 www.anza.org.sg

COMMUNICATIONS AND MEMBERSHIP Brinta Nandy comms@anza.org.sg ADVERTISING Deborah Gillies marketing@anza.org.sg

MEMBERSHIP SERVICES Nikki Hutchins info@anza.org.sg

facebook.com/anzasingapore @anzasg @anzasingapore linkedin.com/groups/ANZA-Singapore

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DESIGN Christina Lim design@anza.org.sg

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AND WE’RE OFF! JA N UA RY / F E B RUA RY 2 0 2 2

School of Rock, anyone?

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48 FEATURES

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21 WHAT TO DO IN SINGAPORE (WHEN YOU THINK YOU’VE DONE IT ALL) Fed up of trawling the same places? ANZA Executive Committee Members reveal their top Singapore spots.

28 CULTURE CLUB

Meet the expats embracing different aspects of the local Asian culture for creative inspiration and a way of life.

New term incoming! This bumper guide will get kids and parents through induction and beyond.

52 FENG SHUI YOUR HOME

Bring health, wealth, happiness (and maybe a water feature) into your house with these spiritual tips in time for the Year of the Tiger.

60 THINK IN THE BOX

Move away from the Vegemite. Combine nutritious food with fun with these lunchbox fillers that suit kids and adults.

REGULARS 01 Editor’s Note 04 President’s Message 06 Post It 08 Partner’s Page 10 Australian High Commission 12 New Zealand High Commission 14 Tours 16 What’s On 18 Out & About 26 ANZA Action

54 Ask the Expert 56 Hotspots DRINK 57 Hotspots EAT 59 Tuckerbox 62 Techsplained 64 ANZA Photography 66 ANZA Sports 72 Groups 74 New Members 76 10 Minutes With…

COVER PHOTOGRAPHY: SHUTTERSTOCK

36 BACK TO SCHOOL SPECIAL

the fine print ANZA will not be liable for any consequential loss or damage occasioned by the failure of any advertisement to appear due to any cause whatsoever, nor does it accept any liability for error in any advertisement published or its failure to appear on a specific date. ANZA does not endorse or promote any product, service, or view offered through any advertisement, community service notice, or club or group activity that may appear in the magazine, nor does it accept responsibility for any specific advice or opinions offered by contributors or writers, and any subsequent reliance on such advice or opinions by its readers. ANZA magazine permit number: MCI (P) 070/10/2021

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January/February 2022

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Your Trusted Family Dentist Smilefocus has been caring for the dental needs of the international and local communities for over 20 years. From the youngest family members to the oldest. You can trust us to keep your whole family smiling oldest.

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Dr Jonathan Luke BDS (Otago)

PRESI DENT ’S MES S AG E

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write this message in the middle of our Christmas holiday. Like many of us, we are delighted to be finally visiting friends and family back in our home country of Australia after several long years away. It has been beautiful to see our Covid baby, who arrived in January 2020, sizing up her grandparents for the first time and figuring out quite quickly what the world is all about. What better way to recharge the batteries then seeing our young children being adored and spoiled by their grandparents? While they’re busy throwing the kids into a few crashing waves on Manly beach, this cricket tragic is trying to maintain a line of sight to the Ashes on the telly!

As we kick off the new year we’ve loaded up this issue with back to school tips. The amount of diversity we find for education options in Singapore is always incredible, from prep schools to big schools and everything in between, we are certainly spoiled for choice. Our kids started at a “big” school fairly recently and similar to ANZA with members from almost 60 countries, I love the worldly exposure they get in their little United Nations classrooms.

As we head into 2022, I’d like to thank all of our awesome contributors to this magazine over the past year. From our members, sponsors, executive committee and staff, all contributions are critical to the ongoing success and growth of ANZA. We can’t wait to see all of our sub groups returning this year, building amazing connections, friendships and lifelong memories to continue the pivotal role ANZA has played for over 70 years within our community. As we gear up for the months ahead, our tireless and heroic volunteers continue to work hard to navigate the shifting landscapes to get us back into action. Please offer them a big smile and thank you when you’re back on deck this year – it goes a long way!

I hope you feel re-energised after the break, and wish you all the best for the year ahead. I look forward to seeing everyone soon.

Me and all my girls on

ANZA EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

President Adam Martin

Vice President Megan Kinder

Executive Secretary Mark Neo

Executive Treasurer Tristan Perry

Membership Secretary Philip Simmonds

Joint Sports Coordinator Megan Scott

Committee Member Zenaida Bharucha

Committee Member Don Northey

Committee Member Maria Taylor

Committee Member Christo Fangupo

Committee Member John Neilson

Committee Member Alistair Green

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the first day of “big” sch

Adam Martin

CO-PATRONS His Excellency William Hodgman, High Commissioner for Australia | Her Excellency Jo Tyndall, High Commissioner for New Zealand ANZA AMBASSADOR PJ Roberts 4

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January/February 2022

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D O E S YO U R R E L AT I O N S H I P CROSS BORDERS? Specialised expert advice is critical in resolving family and relationship law issues - particularly where they extend beyond Australia’s borders.

Lander & Rogers has the largest family and relationship law practice in Australia, assisting Aussie expats and those with a connection to Australia in all aspects of family law involving married and de facto couples.

We have significant experience working with partner firms in Singapore, Hong Kong and Southeast Asia in cases involving multiple jurisdictions.

For assistance navigating an international or cross-cultural family or relationship law matter, speak with one of our experienced family lawyers.

Melbourne +61 3 9269 9000 Sydney +61 2 8020 7700 Brisbane +61 7 3456 5000

familylaw@landers.com.au landers.com.au

POST I T

POST IT

K E E P U P -T O - D AT E W I T H T H E A N Z A C O M M U N I T Y E A C H M O N T H AT A N Z A .O R G . S G

HAPPY AUSTRALIA & WAITANGI DAYS!

From all of us at ANZA, we wish our Aussie members and friends a very Happy Australia Day for Tuesday 26 January and all our Kiwi members and friends a Happy Waitangi Day on 6 February. While restrictions are still in place, we can still party with pride. If there was ever a time to throw a prawn on a barbie, or dive into a pavlova, it’s now!

POET’S CORNER

We were terribly sad when Emma Wall and her family returned to Oz late last year, but thrilled that her son, Charlie, composed a poem for us in memory of the great times he had at ANZA Soccer.

Thanks Charlie - and what a talent!

An Ode To ANZA Soccer My car dashes onto the freeway, ZOOM! I sit in the car plotting the other team’s DOOM! Finally, I have arrived in the carpark, Now I run to see my miraculous mate Mark.

I’m ready to beat the Warriors 20-0, And score against their goalie, Bill.

I imagine the goal shining at me, And I stare at the beautiful dancing tree.

Max kicks the ball into the crossbar, Then I head it in and dance like a rockstar.

The team on top, of course the Snipers The other team cry like a baby in diapers The defensive rock at the back Is in the team not wearing black It’s the best game I’ve played in my life I’ve stabbed my worries with a knife It’s been an hour, the game is done I wait for the next week to have more fun But just for now, I go to run Then come back home to have a pork bun.

This month we speak to Dr Neil Forrest at Osler health International

DR NEIL FORREST A family GP based at Osler Health International Singapore

Who is Osler Health and what’s your role?

I’m a family doctor at our Star Vista clinic. Osler Health (osler-health.com) provide care for the whole family, from newborns to visiting grandparents! We’re a clinic where you’ll find caring, understanding staff who can provide you with advice, treatment or whatever else you need.

What are you up to when you’re not at work?

Spending time with my kids, Emma and George.

Being outdoors as much as possible, playing golf, tennis and football (I’ve even managed to score against ANZA a few times!). Oh, and watching my beloved Liverpool FC. If you had to give one piece of health advice, what would it be?

GOT SOMETHING TO SAY? Email us at info@anza.org.sg or comment on our Facebook page facebook.com/anzasingapore

Prevention is better than the cure. Most medical issues I see are related to lifestyle, so eat well, exercise, and look after your mental wellbeing, and we can keep medical interventions to a minimum!

What’s your partnership with ANZA and how long has it been underway?

Osler Health developed a relationship with ANZA from the moment we opened. As doctors we’re all passionate about health and ANZA’s sporting opportunities are of huge benefit to the international community.

What’s the best thing about working with ANZA? The great ANZA team and their like-minded attitude towards health and wellbeing.

STAY CONNECTED WITH ANZA facebook.com/anzasingapore @anzasg @anzasingapore linkedin.com/groups/ANZA-Singapore

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Seeds of ideas and attitudes, once taken root, can last a lifetime.

Starting from Nursery, we look to create an environment where children’s natural curiosity can grow and flourish, and a love of learning is cultivated through a curriculum filled with wonder.

Our experienced Nursery team’s rigorous planning creates a carefully inspired learning environment where young, inquisitive minds are nurtured, and imagination captured. Classrooms and outdoor areas are a magical hive of activity where children can eagerly explore and develop a joy of learning.

High levels of engagement lead to high levels of attainment as our children embark on their extraordinary journey through one of Singapore’s most established international schools.

Visit www.tts.edu.sg to find out more.

CPE Reg. No. 196100114C (7/6/2017 - 6/6/2023)

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ANZ A PARTN ER S

THANK YOU TO THE FOLLOWING ANZA PARTNERS, VALUED GREATLY FOR THEIR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF THE ASSOCIATION. PLATINUM PARTNERS

GOLD PARTNERS

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Pantone 201C & Cool Grey 11C

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January/February 2022

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AUSTR ALIAN HIG H C OM M IS SION

AUSTRALIA AND SINGAPORE

GREAT MATES AND TRUSTED PARTNERS The new year starts with strong country relationships, a refreshed optimism, and the hope of being able to travel once more.

Order of Australia medal presented to LieutenantGeneral Ong

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he start of a new year is inevitably a time to reflect and look ahead with optimism at what’s to come.

Australia’s bilateral relationship with Singapore is one of our closest and most enduring in the region and has gone from strength to strength. The challenges of the pandemic brought our countries closer and we want to thank our Australian expat community for their contribution to the warmth of this relationship.

For Australia Day this year, we will be showing our gratitude to Singaporeans for their support this past year. Please join our community on Instagram (@australiainsg) to take part and share your #GreatMatesAUSG moments.

Lieutenant-General Melvyn Ong with High Commissioner Will Hodgman at the Order of Australia presentation ceremony, October 2021

Order of Australia presentation to Singapore’s Defence Chief

Australian High Commission Singapore 25 Napier Road Singapore, 258507 Tel 6836 4100 Fax 6737 5481

STAY CONNECTED Follow us on Facebook: facebook.com/ AustraliaInSingapore LinkedIn: linkedin.com/ company/ahc-sg Twitter: @AusHCSG Instagram: @AustraliaInSG

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Just one example of the closeness of Australia’s relationship with Singapore was the appointment of Singapore’s Chief of Defence Force, Lieutenant General Melvyn Ong, as an Officer of the Order of Australia late last year.

The Order of Australia is our country’s preeminent means of recognising and celebrating service and achievement. Honorary appointments are made to people who are not Australian citizens but who have made an enormous contribution to Australia or humanity.

Lieutenant General Ong was recognised for his distinguished service and dedication

Our top travel tips for your Aussie visitors!

With travel between Australia and Singapore becoming more possible, we’re all excited to welcome our family and loved ones back to Singapore. As it’s been a while since we all travelled, you may want to share these top travel tips with your visitors.

to strengthening the close and longstanding Australia-Singapore defence relationship. Under his leadership, the Singapore Armed Forces contributed over 70 personnel and air support to Operation Bushfire Assist in 2020, which greatly assisted firefighting and recovery efforts in Victoria.

High Commissioner Will Hodgman was honoured to present Lieutenant General Ong with his medal in a small ceremony at the High Commission building. The ceremony included video messages from the Governor-General of Australia the Hon David Hurley and Australia’s Defence Force Chief, General Angus Campbell.

Check your passport’s validity.

Many countries, including Singapore, require arrivals to have at least six months’ validity on their passport after their planned departure date to enter the country.

Your guests should keep this in mind for any onward travel from Singapore too.

Download your International Covid-19 Vaccination Certificate using the myGov or Express Plus Medicare mobile apps BEFORE departing Australia. Check the latest Covid-19 Safe Management Measures on the Singapore Government Ministry of Health website at www.moh.gov.sg.

Familiarise yourself with Singapore’s local laws, noting that Singapore has strict penalties in place for activities that may otherwise be legal or are minor offences in Australia. Check out https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/ destinations/asia/singapore for more information.

For more Singapore travel information head to @australiainsg

January/February 2022

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NEW ZEAL A N D HIG H C OM M IS SION

SAVE THE DATE

The beginning of the new year brings some important dates to remember, so stick them in your calendars now!

WHAT’S WAITANGI DAY ALL ABOUT? Waitangi Day on 6 February 2022 commemorates what is considered to be New Zealand’s founding document.

As we approach the landmark date, here’s some deeper history on what it means for Aotearoa New Zealand.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT New Zealand High Commission Singapore One George Street, Level 21-04 Singapore 049145 Tel 6235 9966 Fax 6536 8180 nzhc.sin@mfat.govt.nz

STAY CONNECTED Follow us on Facebook: facebook.com/ NewZealandinSingapore

Chinese New Year 2022 falls on Tuesday, 1 February and will herald the Year of the Tiger. While prevailing social restrictions may mean we have to tweak the way we celebrate, one thing is for sure – there will be an abundance of food everywhere. As you prepare for the feasting, here’s some insights into the meaning behind some of the traditional food that’s consumed during the Chinese festive season: Braised Mushroom with Moss: thought to bring prosperity and fortune Nian Gao: a rice cake linked to promotions or a higher income Mandarin orange: the colour and way the Chinese character is written signifies success and luck TangYuan: this glutinous rice ball with black sesame or peanut filling signifies reunions

Register when travelling: safetravel.govt.nz Find out more: mfat.govt.nz/singapore

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OUT OF OFFICE Tuesday, 1 Feb Wednesday, 2 Feb

Chinese New Year

Friday, 15 Apr

Good Friday

Monday, 2 May Tuesday, 3 May Monday, 16 May

In lieu of Labour day on 1 May Hari Raya Puasa In lieu of Vesak Day on 15 May

Friday, 24 Jun

Matariki NZ

Monday, 11 Jul Tuesday, 9 Aug Monday, 24 Oct

In lieu of Hari Raya Haji on 10 Jul National Day Deepavali

Monday, 26 Dec Tuesday, 27 Dec Wednesday, 28 Dec Thursday, 29 Dec Friday, 30 Dec

Boxing Day Office holiday Office holiday Office holiday Office holiday

High Commissions need public holidays too. Please note that the New Zealand High Commission will be closed on the following days throughout 2022. New Zealanders needing urgent consular assistance during this period can call +64 9920 2020.

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Discover the Difference

DE T U

DO R P UN ONS M

Global Citizenship

Our approach to Global Citizenship is a holistic one that ensures our students acquire the knowledge, the skills, the attitudes and the values necessary to make a positive difference.

We support and encourage our students in becoming the changemakers of tomorrow by allowing them to develop real leadership skills in the areas that they are truly passionate about.

singapore.dulwich.org admissions.singapore@dulwich.org (65) 6890 1003

We support our students in realising their agency in the world around them, encouraging them to stand up against injustice and to navigate the complexities of global society with compassion and empathy.

Dulwich College (Singapore) students establish themselves as proactive and passionate individuals for whom service and caring for the world around them is central to their core beliefs and values.

LIVE

Dulwich College (Singapore) CPE Registration Number: 201027137D. Period of Registration: 09 Janurary 2020 to 08 Janurary 2024. School Location: 71 Bukit Batok West Avenue 8, Singapore, 658966

ANZA TOURS JAN/FEB 14 anza

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New year, new fun to be had on our new tours! Sign up to see and discover more about the Lion City.

DATE: Tuesday 25 January TIME: 3pm – 6pm MEET: 2.50pm at the pergola in front of Block 3 and behind the bus stop, at the corner of Neil and Everton roads.

Nearest MRT is Outram Park COST: Members $45, non-members $50

Chinese New Year

Chinatown is always fascinating, yet even more so during the Chinese New Year celebrations. Our guide will explain the customs, taboos and traditions of this exciting and colourful holiday as you wander through Chinatown, learning about the history of the area. We’ll drop by a bakery for traditional Chinese cakes, meet sellers of incense and paper money, and visit a clan house and the Kuan Yin Temple. The tour will end at the Chinatown Complex where bargain-hunting is optional. You’ll then have the chance to eat at the famous Smith Street Noodle Shop (at your own expense) and enjoy the lights and atmosphere of Chinatown at this magical time of year. Wear comfortable shoes and bring water and an umbrella.

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Monkey God’s Birthday in Tiong Bahru

DATE: Wednesday 16 February TIME: 9.30am – 12.30pm MEET: 9.20am, Tiong Bahru MRT station, Exit B next to McDonalds COST: Members $45, non-members $50

Enjoy the festivities centred around the Monkey God’s Birthday as we head to Tiong Bahru, home of The Tiong Bahru Qi Tian Gong, or Monkey God Temple. While there, discover the meaning behind the name ‘Tiong Bahru’ and find out why it was known as “the neighbourhood of beautiful women”. Meet Alice Wang, the cobbler who conducts business from her window, taste Mrs. Cheng’s award-winning Gula Melaka Chiffon Cake, and see iconic murals by Singaporean artist Yip Yew Chong. Our tour ends at the wet market looking for local delicacies.

Ford Factory and Changi Chapel and Museum

DATE: Saturday 26 February TIME: 9.30am – 13.00pm MEET: 9.20am at the carpark entrance of Newton hawker centre COST: Members $90, non-members $100

Creation of Jewel

Hidden gems of the West

DATE: Tuesday 22 February TIME: 9.30am – 12 noon MEET: 9.20am, bus stop in front of Haw Par Villa MRT station COST: Members $35, non-members $40

Join this tour to discover some hidden gems in the western part of Singapore. Tiger Balm is a salve everyone has heard of for easing aches and pains, but did you know there was a Tiger Balm Garden built in Singapore in 1937? More accurately known as Haw Par Villa, it’s truly unique, with over 1,000 statues and 150 dioramas that dramatise Chinese legends and folklore.

The sculptures are a reminder to walk the straight and narrow in life and are lessons on virtues and morality. Afterwards. we’ll check out the biggest wholesale centre in Singapore for vegetables and fruits - bring a big bag! Tea break will be at your own expense.

Singapore fell into the hands of the Japanese on 15 February 1942. As a result, as many as 10,000 POWs and civilians were imprisoned at Changi Prison. Our visit to Changi Chapel and Museum provides a chance to learn about the hardships of the prisoners.

We’ll then drive to the Changi Beach massacre site where the ethnic cleansing known as Sook Ching took place. Our last stop is at the former Ford Factory - Ford’s first motor car assembly plant in south east Asia, and a temporary Japanese headquarters during the war.

DATE: Wednesday 2 March TIME: 10.00am – 12.00pm MEET: 9.50am, Changi Airport MRT, Exit-T3 departure hall on L2 COST: Members $30, non-members $35

Since Changi Airport opened in 1981 it has won awards for being the best airport in the world. In October 2019, it was elevated to a new level when Jewel officially opened. During this tour you’ll learn about the history of Changi Airport, the construction of Jewel, and the architect behind it, Mr. Moshe Safdie. Our guide will share how an open air carpark in front of T1 has transformed into five levels above ground and seven basement levels, combining commercial and natural environments. Learn about the features of the Rain Vortex, Canopy Park and Forest Valley, home to over 2,000 species of trees and plants.

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WHAT’S ON

ART TAKES OVER

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ingapore Art Week (SAW) returns this January for its 10th edition. It will be a celebration of the Singapore visual arts in the past decade. Over 100 events are happening across the island and online, with close to 600 artists and creatives, curators and partners from Singapore and countries such as Bangkok, China, Australia, Turkey, the UK and the States taking part. As well as on-site exhibitions, tours and trails, transnational collaborations, and virtual art experiences, art lovers can see their favourite precincts and neighbourhoods come alive with cool art launches and expanded programmes.

From 14-23 January 2022. For the latest updates, follow @sgartweek. artweek.sg

Above: Nicole Phua will be starring at SAW Below: SEA Focus is just one of the SAW locations

FESTIVAL FEELING

Keep the festive celebrations alive by heading into Little India on Saturday, 15 January. This date marks Pongol, an ancient Hindu harvest festival which gives thanks to nature for a good harvest, especially rice, and for a prosperous beginning to the year.

– Raelene Tan

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Children’s Museum Singapore, Singapore Art Museum

MORE MUSEUMS INCOMING

In Singapore more is more, so we enter the new year with two new excellent museums. The Singapore Philatelic Museum (SPM) has been revamped to emerge butterfly-like as the new Children’s Museum Singapore (CMSG). As Singapore’s first dedicated children’s museum, it’s packed with curiosity, experimentation, sensory experiences and play. Meanwhile, Singapore Art Museum (SAM) launches the super-sleek SAM at Tanjong Pagar Distripark (TPD) this month, offering a range of art programming for all ages alongside family-friendly exhibitions and hip stuff for teens. Look out for the forthcoming Singapore Art Book Fair which is taking place there.

Find CMSG at 23-B Coleman Street, 179807. SAM at TP, 39 Keppel Rd, 01-02, 089065. singaporeartmuseum.sg

WELL, THAT’S ABSURD

From the creators of interactive theatrical dining events Andsoforth, Absurdities is a new restaurant that’s not really a restaurant, but instead an immersive experience. Located in a secret shophouse, it uses set design, soundscape and lighting to transport guests to six different and captivating environments in 120 minutes. While doing so, you’ll enjoy an omakase of six courses and two alcoholic surprises.

Nope, we don’t quite know what to expect either, but doesn’t it sound fun?!

Absurdities is at a secret location. Open Thurs to Sat, 6:30pm-10:30pm through to 29 January. andsoforth.com.sg

TV FAVES COME TO TOWN

Fans of SpongeBob SquarePants, PAW Patrol, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Dora the Explorer and Bubble Guppies – rejoice! “The World of Nickelodeon” is coming to town and makes for a fantastic family day out. Find yourselves in a world of interactive games and obstacles, alongside a Slime Lounge, Jellyfish Fields, a soft playground and climbing wall.

There’s also the opportunity for kids (and adults) to meet their favourite Nickelodeon characters. We’ll totally understand if you need a long lie-down afterwards.

From 26 Feb 2022-17 April 2022. Let’s Play @03-208/209, Marina Square. Find out more at sistic.com.sg

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OUT & ABOUT

ANZA SOCCER

The JSSL Singapore 4 vs 4 FA Cup 2021 took place in December, and ANZA Soccer brought it home!

Girls 13 JSSL FA Cup Plate Winners

Girls 14 JSSL FA Cup Plate Winners

Girls 14 JSSL FA Cup 1st Runners Up

LADIES NIGHT

You can still be a small group to party big you know! Our ladies show us exactly how to do it at C’est La Vie.

Boys 14 JSSL FA Cup Champions

STITCHES

We love the concentration of our ANZA stitches group as much as the end result of these beautiful pieces.

GOLF

ANZA Golf gets you outside to practice your swing and looking so stylish while at it.

MAHJONG

Time with the board brightens the spirits of our dedicated players welcome back to our glamorous Beach Road venue!

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Annual General Meeting 2022 All members are invited to attend the ANZA Annual General Meeting at 7pm on Tuesday 22nd March. Details of the venue will be posted on the ANZA website pending prevailing COVID restrictions.

Interested in helping out at ANZA? Want to give something back to the community?

Why not join the ANZA Executive Committee?

The following positions on the ANZA Executive Committee will be open for nomination: • President

• Community Service Coordinator

• Vice President

• Sporting Coordinator (Two Positions)

• Executive Secretary

• Executive Committee Member

• Executive Treasurer

(Six Positions )

• Membership Secretary For the full formal notice of meeting, position descriptions, online nomination form and meeting venue, please refer to the ANZA website

If you are interested, or know someone who would be a great fit, please visit anza.org.sg and complete the online nomination form by Friday 25 February 2022.

Join us to hear how our sports and interest groups performed in 2021 and about the exciting plans we have for the year ahead.

Register at anza.org.sg

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Play Mahjong with ANZA

MONDAY EVENING SESSIONS!

ANZA Mahjong meets up on various days and locations around the island. It’s a great way to make friends and learn this fun, brain boosting Chinese tile game. From beginners and beyond, all levels are welcome!

9 dies hol

e golf

La

anza.org.sg/groups/mahjong

Improve your swing in 2022!

Looking to kickstart your golf game and meet friendly female players? Join this relaxed group at a beautiful green course on Tuesday mornings. Other activities include group lessons and social events. Suitable for beginners and those seeking a handicap.

VENUE: Mandai Executive Golf Course Upper Seletar Reservoir, Mandai Rd Track 7, 779384 anza.org.sg/sports/golf-9-hole-ladies

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W HAT ’ S O N E X T R A

What To Do In Singapore (When You Think You’ve Done It All)

Been there, done that? Pah! ANZA Executive Committee Members share their lesser-known things to do, see and try on the island.

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ne of the many great things about Singapore is that she may be small, but she’s always striving to improve herself with offerings and opportunities for the masses. When it comes to entertainment and leisure, there’s always somewhere new to explore, or something unique to experience away from the tried and tested favourites.

We get it - after an age of restrictions it might feel like you’ve done all you can here - but have we got news for you! We spoke to some members of the ANZA Executive Committee (and long-time Singapore dwellers) who revealed their Little Black Book of Red Dot moments away from the plethora of ANZA groups and activities available. From cheeseboardmaking to goat feeding, pilot training to hawker-hopping, these ideas will help kick off your 2022 schedule. Just don’t all rush to them at once …

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“Visit attractions you’d probably only see as a tourist” Megan Scott has lived in Singapore for the past nine years.

Sample local theater

Go coast to coast

Singapore has quite a vibrant and diverse live theatre scene showing everything from Shakespeare in the Park to award-winning plays like Tuesdays With Morrie and The Importance of Being Ernest with a unique local spin. My favourite local theatre companies to support, especially in these challenging times, are Pangdemonium (pangdemonium. com), Wild Rice (wildrice.com) and The Singapore Repertory Theatre (srt.com.sg).

The coast to coast walk begins in Jurong and takes you through to Coney Island in the East. You can tackle the walk all in one go or take it easy like my friend and I did. We covered one or two checkpoints in a weekend and rewarded ourselves with breakfast each week. Highlights were seeing the hanging birdcages as we walked through the heartlands and stumbling across a community garden with flowers, fruit and vegetables side by side. There’s also an app with interactive and virtual reality features to help your tech obsessed kids engage with nature in a way that suits them.

Purchase a Friends of Wildlife annual pass The Friends of Wildlife Plus is the ultimate membership for all Wildlife Reserve Parks, giving you unlimited access to Singapore Zoo, Bird Park, River Safari and Night Zoo for a year - so it’s great value for families. My goddaughter loves the animals but also the water park at the zoo. Check out wrs.com.sg for current deals.

Get crafty Friends and I had a great afternoon at Tombalek (tombalek.com) recently making our own cheeseboard. We thoroughly enjoyed getting to grips with the power tools and had a good laugh while sanding the wood until it was smooth and shiny. Beware - the stain has to settle for a week before you can use it for cheese!

Make like a tourist You can have a great time spending your weekend visiting tourist attractions you’d probably only go to see if you were just passing through Singapore rather than living here. Some of my favourites include the Tiger Brewery Tour (tigerbrewerytour.com.sg) for a behind-the-scenes glimpse into Singapore’s largest beer brewery (with beer tasting afterwards), and a visit to the former Ford Car Factory (corporate.nas.gov.sg), Ford Motor Company’s first assembly plant in Southeast Asia and where British forces surrendered to the Japanese after the Battle of Singapore in 1942.

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“Try Alexandra Villa Food Centre on ge Bukit Merah Lane”

ANZA Treasurer Tri stan Perry moved to Singapore six years He lives on Sentosa ago. with his wife, Julia, and children Nina, seve n, and Miles, three.

Visit a new hawke

r

We’re big fans of exploring Singapo re in general, and when ever we go somew here new, we always tie it into a meal so we can find a hawker cent er and try some ne w food.

Hawker food is m y guilty pleasure and it has become a creatur e comfort. Our fav ourite is the Alexandra Vil lage Food Centre on Bukit Merah Lane. It’s so clean, organised, and has amazing variety.

Sunday picnics a

td

usk Ever yone knows Ta njong Beach, but do you know it’s at its best at around 5p m?

We usually head do wn for a swim, an d take sandwiches, homemade biscui ts and kombucha. It’s su per-relaxed, and th ere are usually a few dogs running around as we all wind down after a big weekend.

Lazarus Sentosa FIsland on the erry Most pe

ople head to Pulau U Lazarus Isla bin, but nd is only 10 minute by ferr y fr s aw ay om Sentosa Cove. You your bikes can take (and dogs! ) to one of beautiful b the most eaches in Singapore proper soft , with sand. It ’s a really uniq and a must ue island -visit.

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Explore a local te

m

ple The temples here are always impres sive, and can be found across the island. While they ’re fascinating to experience, alw ays check with sta ff that it’s okay to enter the prem ises (I have never ha d a rejection before). They ’re ev en better if you ha ve a local friend to guide you arou nd and explain th e history and protocols. Tr y the Kwan Im Thong Ho od Cho Temple on Waterloo Road , Thian Hock Keng Te mple on Telok Ayer Street, and Kong Meng Sa n Ph or Kark See Monastery, th e biggest Buddhi st temple in Singapore, on Brig ht Hill Road.

Tackle Mount Bu

kit

Timah It’s a popular Singa porean route, and lovely, and you can spot all sorts of interesti ng wildlife such as fly ing lemurs, orienta l pied hornbills and butte rflies. The kids love the separate area off the side of the ca r park where there’s a fe w different playgr ounds and a wonder ful reserv oir.

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“Kids get to see goats being milked and feed them hay”

moved to Singapore thirteen ANZA’s President Adam Martin with wife, Mille, and three years ago. Today he lives here , four and Isabella, one.

Evie en, sev daughters Maddie,

Scale the treetops

to Hor t Park, which The Mount Faber trail through Henderson Wave includes the TreeTop Walk and ning views and Bridge, is a winner. There are stun feel like you’ve themed gardens, and you really le. nparks.gov.sg escaped from the city for a whi

Fly high

Stay in line

children aged 6+ The Skyline Luge Sentosa is for in with adults. but younger kids can be clipped are various Our four year-old loves it. There re you can whe rby nea nts aura beachside rest sand and water. dine whilst the kids play in the skylineluge.com

’s Cable Car This is not a secret, but Sentosa t bargain at $40!

Annual Pass is Singapore’s bes to the top of At least monthly I’ll take the kids there. Plus, Mount Faber and they love it up tosa is the the connecting ride along Sen per fect way to make an adventurous entr y onto the island.

Do the Skywalk

Fort Siloso Skywalk is fantastic, often overlooked, and free!

You set off eleven stories high at the skywalk entr y, then trek through a whole bunch of interesting WW2 bunkers, artillery and exhibits. Great for young and old! sentosa.com.sg

Hop to it

farm.sg) is a unique Jurong Frog Farm (jurongfrog re you can learn and interesting experience whe - if you’re game about frogs, pick them up and try a freshly fried one!

Down on the farm

r kids Hay Dairies is a gem for younge g milked bein ts goa see where they get to were kids our of all As . and feed them hay to t trea e olut abs an born in SG, it was se hay share this with them. You purcha and at ly!), ious (ser hine via a vending mac they as had be can fun r’s least half an hou to r floo the from hay al plunder addition g ies.s dair hay ds. frien feed to their new

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“Children love a midnight adventure when their friends are sleeping”

John Nielson lives in Singapore with his wife Silvia and daughter, Trinity, 13. They’ve lived in Singapore for 11 years.

Techie fun

For some truly ‘out-there’ experiences, Sentosa’s Headrock VR, which transports you to the jungle and into crowds of crazed zombies, is a family favourite. Pretending to be a pilot on the Flight Simulator experience (singapore.flightexperience. com.sg) in a genuine Boeing 737-800 cockpit replica is lots of fun. We also love Timezone visits (timezonegames.com) for bowling, air hockey and bumper cars which are ideal when it’s raining (for kids and adults!).

Midnight bike rides

Weekly rides from the East along the coast to the Marina Bay area while the air is cool and less people are around are great.

We stop for drinks by the harbour, then cycle back. Children love the promise of a ‘midnight adventure’ when their friends are sleeping and enjoy the stops for refreshments, too.

Join virtual challenges

We’re an active family and alongside ANZA activities, we joined the conqueror events (theconqueror.events) where you can find online virtual sports challenges. We joined to take on walking, running, cycling and swimming while in lockdown. They don’t compare to being out with groups, but are an ideal thing to sign up to as a family when restrictions are in place.

Try volunteering

My daughter was in ANZA Nippers and Netball for three years. If you volunteer as a parent assistant, you get to learn a new sport yourself and become a coach. For example, you could do the bronze medallion surf life saving qualification and become a qualified surf life saver, while helping to train your kids and keeping fit yourself.

Ice cream on the rocks

It’s very simple, but having an ice-cream at Sentosa port and watching the pleasure boats cruise by is a really nice shared experience for the family, and it feels grounding, too.

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A N Z A AC T IO N

For children needing a kind voice, Tinkle Friend is not just a helpline, but a lifeline.

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hese days, helplines often get overlooked by the easy access to online chats, but no one can deny their importance and the opportunity for a child in need to be able to hear the reassuring - and real - voice of someone who cares.

Tinkle Friend is one example. As part of Singapore Children’s Society, the anonymous phone helpline was set up in 1984 to provide support, advice, and information to lonely and distressed primary school students. Perhaps their parents or main caregivers were unavailable, and the children needed an empathetic adult voice. Or maybe they had a worrying problem and were seeking solutions and reliable, impartial advice.

That was 38 years ago when a small team of 20 volunteers were on board. Today, Tinkle Friend continues to be operated by 40 trained volunteers and staff, and their 26 anza

helpline has grown with the times to include an online chat function on their website, tinklefriend.sg. Their longestserving volunteer, Madam Sarasa, has given 35 years of service alongside the likes of university students, counsellors, retired teachers, tuition teachers, property agents and IT professionals.

We spoke to Ms Ann Hui Peng, Group

In 2020, 47% of upper primary school children utilised Tinkle Friend as compared to 17% of lower primary school children*

Lead for Children Development and the Director of Student Service @ Singapore Children’s Society to find out more about the helpline and online chat, and how ANZA readers can get involved as a volunteer providing support to children.

ANZA: Do volunteers at Tinkle Friend need to have a certain background, and what’s the training process?

Hui Peng: Volunteers and staff must go through a mandatory 3–4 days of pre-service training and supervised sessions. The training covers subjects such as attentive listening skills, adopting a non-judgmental stand as a listener, problem solving, and information on other specialised help resources available should the child require them. For example, if teenagers contact Tinkle Friend we can

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Many feel nervous during their first few calls with the children. Some are hesitant about what to say in response to the children and possibly saying the wrong things. With practice under supervision, everyone accumulates more experience and competency. We also have Tinkle Friend supervisors who are around to offer guidance and assurance if need be, and they’ll take over any challenging or high-risk calls. Knowing this helps reduce anxiety levels for volunteers.

Where do your volunteers answer the calls, and must they commit to a certain number of hours?

Volunteers and staff both go into the office at Student Service @ Children’s Society at Radin Mas Community Club to oversee the helpline and online chat.

Each session lasts for about three hours a day. Volunteers must commit to support the service for at least one year, and they’re required to come in at least twice a month.

How many calls and chats are volunteers expected to take during a session?

There are occasional days where a volunteer may receive 8–10 helpline calls, other days zero to three calls.

Typically, children now prefer the online chats to the helpline calls, and on average, each volunteer serves about 7–8 chats in each session. Circuit Breaker in April 2020 and the school holidays in May 2020 partially contributed to a surge in online chats due to increased publicity

by MOE and primary schools.

Tinkle Friend is a national toll-free helpline on 1800 2744 788 and chatline for all primary school children in Singapore.

The helpline is open Mon–Fri, 2.30pm–5pm.

The online chat can be found at tinklefriend.sg and is open Mon–Thurs 2.30pm to 7.00pm, and Fri 2.30pm to 5pm.

To volunteer at Tinkle Friend, please visit tinklefriend.sg.

Many of our volunteers are worried about supporting users with complex issues, like self-harm and suicidal thoughts. Such high-risk calls and online chats are generally passed over to the Tinkle Friend supervisors to manage.

At times, our volunteers may ask the supervisors if the child has contacted Tinkle Friend again, and if so, they’ll ask what was done to support them. It’s important for our volunteers to know the child is supported and if we assess that they require longer term support, they’ll be referred to community resources or agencies for in-depth intervention work.

How do you ensure that your volunteers have sufficient emotional support?

Both volunteers and staff can share their stresses and reflections with the Tinkle Friend supervisors during supervision and engagement sessions.

It’s worth highlighting that not all calls or chats received are stressful; there are children who share happy moments, like them going to the movies or doing well academically. During the Covid-19 pandemic, children called and asked Tinkle Friend to stay safe and reminded us to observe the safe management measures.

These calls brighten our days. In addition, many of the volunteers have admitted that working with us has helped them to relate better to their own children thanks to the opportunity to gain an insight into how kids think and manage their problems.

Do you have regular callers?

We do. They feel that Tinkle Friend is a good listener and stops them from feeling lonely when they have no one else to turn to. There was a 12 year-old girl who shared how sad she felt when she was punished by her stepfather. We let her cry and offered a listening ear. We were happy to hear that recently she’s been having fun outings and enjoying her time with her reconstructed family.

What kind of person is most suitable for a volunteering position on Tinkle Friends?

Someone who can talk to children like a friend, is mindful not to speak in an authoritative tone, empathetic, nurturing and supportive. These traits will help empower the children to come up with their own solutions to resolve and overcome their issues.

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Shutterstock

Being on the end of a helpline can be tough. How long does it take for a volunteer to feel at ease?

Problems at school, family and peer relationships, boredom, mental health and bullying are the common topics*

Volunteers must experience some very distressing calls ...

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*Tinkle Friend: Year in Review 2020.

refer them to the youth platforms.

In addition, there are also regular individual and group supervision sessions and engagement sessions for volunteers and staff to get further training and feedback.

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LOCAL LIFE

Cul ture Club

The best way to expat? Immerse yourself in your local surroundings. As we approach the most cultural time of the year, we meet three women who take daily inspiration from Singapore.

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ne way to create a fulfilling expat life and reap the benefits of living overseas is to embrace the rich local culture. Luckily for us, Singapore is filled with a fascinating blend of communities, behaviours and ancient traditions. We meet three expats who’ve taken their love of the Lion City way beyond sampling laksa.

“My designs draw inspiration from the joy that CNY celebrations bring” Ify Ubby moved from Italy to Singapore nine years ago. She’s the Founder, Designer & Creative Director of fashion label Olive Ankara, which produces unique apparel that fuses West African prints with Asian history.

You launched Olive Ankara in 2017.

How did it come about?

I moved to Singapore eight years ago as a cancer scientist. While completing my postdoctorate, I was also trying to find some African fabric for my wedding dress, and noticed the absence of African culture here. Eventually I sourced material from Nigeria to make my dress, and went on to open Olive Ankara as a way to bring African culture to Asia.

How have you brought an Asian influence into your designs?

In all of my collections, I marry my Italian roots with my West African heritage and my new Asian life through pattern and colour. Take my two latest prints: Ajo Aye means ‘The Colourful Journey’ and fuses pink and red Japanese motifs with vivid Ankara styles. Ewa Naibu means 28 anza

Iffy with her new Ajo Aye (red), and Ewa Naibu (blue) fabric prints

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Pants inspired by the tradional lion dance

‘The Beauty Inside’ and features blue and green hues which are evocative of peacock feathers, oceans and the Japanese significance of water. However, my love of local culture is perhaps the most obvious in the styles, colours and prints of my cheongsam collection.

Tell us about your cheongsams ...

I started designing them in 2018. Being mindful of cultural appropriation, I talked to my local seamstresses and friends first who loved the idea, then I came up with a few different styles. I launched my first cheongsam collection in June of that year - now I create a new range each year which is more timely! For 2022 my collection is called The Reunion Affair, and it draws inspiration from the joy, liveliness and mingling of cultures that the CNY celebrations bring.

Your designs are so unique. Please talk us through some of them ...

Each piece is different! Some come with mandarin collar fastenings, faux Chinese knotted buttons, big pockets, frills, puffy sleeves, or thick Asian-style belts. They’re all individually designed, but I especially like to take pre-orders so I can custommake a cheongsam to suit personal needs and choose a fabric to match the buyer’s personality.

What are your favourite pieces in The Reunion Affair?

‘Gigi’ is a twin set of oversized shirt and high-waisted straight leg trousers - my take on the traditional ‘auntie’ outfit here.

My lion dance pants, which shimmy and shake as you move in them, are influenced by the traditional Chinese Lion dance and Mu Guiying, a legendary Chinese heroine known for her martial arts. As the dance ritual is performed to bring luck, I like to think that my pants might be lucky, too!

What most inspires your work?

Everything about living in Singapore motivates me. The people I meet in and out of my shop, the rituals taking place throughout the year, the nature around me in the Botanic Gardens, the energy in the markets, the water beside me as I run on the East Coast. Even the sound of the birds that intensifies around Orchard Road as the evening sets in can spark a creative idea.

What’s next for Olive Ankara?

I’m very environmentally conscious and aiming to achieve zero waste by 2022. I’m almost there. Right now, 98% of my fabric is used and nothing goes to waste (the introduction of masks to everyday life really helped with this!).

My new Ajo Aye and Ewa Naibu prints are my most sustainable yet, made with biodegradable natural fibres. I’m also interested in learning more about Singapore’s vibrant Indian culture for Olive Ankara, so watch this space …

The Reunion Affair is available for preorder. Orders take approximately 2-4 weeks. Visit the Olive Ankara showroom at #01-02, 79 Chay Yan Street, Tiong Bahru, 160079. oliveankara.com Instagram @oliveankara +65 8833 3427 January/February 2022

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“I mix an Asian subject matter with a South African perspective” Deborah McKellar is the founder of Talking Textiles, an art and design studio producing artworks and textiles for interior spaces. She’s originally from South Africa and moved to Singapore 20 years ago.

Please tell us the history of Talking Textiles ...

I started the business fourteen years ago in Singapore after studying a Masters in Textile Design in Sydney. When I was in Australia, I noticed lots of independent design studios there but very few in Singapore. I felt there was a gap in the market and thought it would be fun to develop my own art and design studio.

How soon did your surroundings influence you?

Straight away. I was fascinated by my new environment, which I found really exotic and completely different to South Africa. I started to include everyday Asian subject matter into my artworks right from the start, such as oil paintings of a typical Chinese rice bowl. Today, Singapore is at the core of Talking Textiles which shares stories of its unique culture and heritage, and looks at what’s precious to the island.

Which parts of the local culture are you particularly drawn to?

The most obvious would be the shophouses and black & white bungalows. However, I also play with the stories of Singapore seen through motifs and objects around us. Images

Deborah’s art looks at what’s precious to the island

such as grains of rice, Chinese paper cut outs, dragons and phoenixes, tropical foliage, and chicken rice recipes, have all impacted my work.

Tell us about one of your pieces …

Everton Road tells stories from the Blair Plain conservation area which has a rich Chinese heritage reflected in the architectural details. You can see green ceramic Chinese roof tiles and the beautiful details of the mosaic phoenix.

Chinese lanterns dance on a string,

adding a festive feel. The bright colours of the kueh (traditional sweets) are mimicked in the silk of the fabric cutout dragons. As is characteristic to this area, cheerful Peranakan tiles border the artwork.

From where else do you get ideas for your work?

Visuals from home decor magazines, Pinterest and Instagram. My South African roots also help me to interpret the Asian subject matter in an autonomous way. There’s a certain rawness and use of textures, seen in my mixed-media, which has strong links to the visual style in South Africa. The general look in Singapore is more streamlined. It’s this mix of an Asian subject matter with a South African perspective and interpretation that I like to think gives my art a unique aesthetic.

To view Deborah’s standard collection and silkscreen artworks contact talkingtextiles@gmail.com talkingtextiles.asia www.facebook.com/TalkingTextiles/ instagram.com/talkingtextiles/ talkingtextiles.asia/retailers

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WORLD CHANGING

— one MUDPIE at a time.

Our students are learning math and science concepts as they pour, measure and explore volume while playing in the mud kitchen or sandpit.

Preparing your child for a changing world.

Join us at our Kindergarten open houses on 24 or 25 February.

RSVP at www.cis.edu.sg/kg-open-house As an IB World School, CIS offers the PYP, MYP and IB DP. Canadian International School Pte. Ltd. CPE Registration No: 199002243H. Period of Registration: 8 June 2019 - 7 June 2023

“I want to promote a greater pride about Singapore’s heritage, animals and food” Yvette Smith is of Australian and Peranaken descent, and lives in Singapore. She launched her jewellery company, She Loves Blooms, in July 2020.

Please describe She Loves Blooms to me ...

She Loves Blooms is an acrylic jewellery online shop and my side hobby. I design quirky brooches that bring awareness to endangered animals, but also amplify the local Asian culture. Ultimately, I want to create a greater pride about Singapore’s heritage, animals and hawker food.

Why did you launch your business?

I read a lot about Singapore’s endangered animal species, particularly the Pangolin and Slow Loris, and I wanted to highlight this. My first two brooches were Polly the Pangolin and Leila the Slow Loris.

Every brooch I design is associated with a specific story, event, or occurrence that aims to help people start a conversation.

My food-based designs are particularly good for this!

You are of Chinese Peranakan and Australian descent. Were you raised in one culture more than the other?

I’m very fortunate to experience both. On my mum’s side of the family, the Chinese Peranakan experience is rich and diverse.

While growing up I got to experience

Yvette with a shophouse on her shoulder!

yummy Peranakan cuisine made by my grandmother. On my dad’s side, I had the Aussie family bush life. My paternal grandmother taught me the importance of different plants and the magical healing qualities of bush medicine.

Have you always brought local elements into your pieces?

Being immersed in Singaporean culture has profoundly influenced my designs.

For example, my love of Peranakan shophouses led me to design my Peranakan Shophouse brooch. I love Peranakan colours - I remember watching my grandmother pick out her baju kebaya as a young kid and admiring the colours and details in each batik design.

Which parts of the Asian culture are you particularly drawn to?

South East Asia’s Indigenous peoples are fascinating to me. Some indigenous hill tribes (Karen, Hmong, and Iban tribes) are recognised for their aesthetic in handicraft and textiles. I’m fascinated by their colourful handicraft beadwork and detailed embroidered outfits, and how each piece is unique and handmade, just like my brooches.

Can you share any exciting business plans for 2022?

The Nyonya brooch is a portrait of my maternal grandmama. I hope to create more portrait women-themed brooches featuring Singapore’s rich cultural diversity. Stay tuned! shelovesblooms.com www.facebook.com/ shelovesblooms/ Instagram @shelovesblooms 32 anza

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UWCSEA Dover is registered by the Committee for Private Education (CPE), part of SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) CPE Registration No. 197000825H Registration period 18 July 2017–17 July 2023 | UWCSEA East is registered by the Committee for Private Education (CPE), part of SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) CPE Registration No. 200801795N Registration period 10 March 2017–9 March 2023 | MKT-2122

SP O N S O R E D F E AT U R E

Be the star you are at Dulwich College Kindergarten School

Dual language teaching, swimming lessons, library sessions, and a focus on individual strengths and interests are just the beginning for your child’s education.

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or children aged 2-7 years-old, Dulwich College Kindergarten School (DUCKS) is a dream.

Located within the campus of Dulwich College (Singapore), it delivers a challenging, ambitious and holistic education enabling students to discover and develop their full potential. Children receive a happy and purposeful introduction to learning and an emphasis on pastoral care which ignites a warm and welcoming school environment. And that’s not all . . .

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It’s a dual language environment (English and Mandarin) At DUCKS, every class is taught by at least one native Englishspeaking teacher and one native Mandarin-speaking teacher.

Children are fully immersed in the two languages all day and the

aim is confidence and competency in both. Acquiring proficiency in more than one language broadens children’s horizons, promoting endless possibilities for social and emotional growth, alongside

academic development. DUCKS children also have daily Mandarin lessons.

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High potential learners

A balance is struck between student self-guided explorations and the teaching of core competencies, particularly in reading, writing, phonics, maths and Mandarin. Teachers at DUCKS extend and challenge students in areas of strength and interest. This might involve additional maths for children who demonstrate advanced knowledge of numbers, or enabling children to lead a lesson on a subject they’re especially confident in.

Leadership potential

Leadership positions open to DUCKS children include Student Council, House Captains, Ecowarriors and Techsperts.

Dulwich College Kindergarten School believes that all children should have the opportunity to meet their potential

and perform highly in areas in which they have particular talents and skills.

Specialist teachers

All DUCKS children have weekly swimming lessons using the school’s three pools, and from the age of five years-old, they have specialist PE, music and choir lessons. They also have weekly specialist library lessons in a beautiful dedicated Early Years library and plenty of opportunities for drama, with all children performing in the 740seat professional theatre regularly.

The DUCKS specialist teacher programme allows those with particular talents to excel in specific areas like music, sport, drama and art.

Incredible facilities

The purpose-built state-of-the-art campus offers outstanding amenities designed to nurture the intellectual, physical, social and emotional development of younger students. The world-class DUCKS facilities include three swimming pools, playing fields, indoor gymnasium, a rooftop bike track, library, two dining rooms, a butterfly garden, water play area, Forest School, and a professional kitchen. DUCKS children also have regular access to the Performing Arts Centre with three theatres.

We embrace nature

The Forest School at Dulwich College (Singapore) uses the outdoors to build independence and

self-esteem in children. The natural environment gives students an opportunity to take measured risks, collaborate with peers, design challenges

and problem-solve. At DUCKS, there’s a dedicated outdoor area where children in the Early Years go to Forest School on a weekly basis with the Forest School leader. Activities might include

making a fire, toasting marshmallows, sawing

wood or digging trenches. This allows children to apply academic skills, build emotional

resilience, learn to manage risk and - importantly - have fun!

Dulwich College Kindergarten School (DUCKS) is located within the campus of Dulwich College (Singapore), a leading international school with a British independent school ethos, which draws upon a proud 400-year heritage of excellence, innovation and values of the founding school in London.

Visit singapore.dulwich.org for more information.

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Principal tips for new term prep Shiny bag? Tick. Snacky-snacks? Tick. Extra masks? Tick tick tick. And don’t forget the rest, says new School Principal at Australian International School (AIS), Adam Paterson.

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he start of a new school year can be approached much like the start of a marathon: you can turn up, run, and hope for the best without much thought, but parents and children are likely to have a much better time if you’re prepared from the get-go.

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organisation such as buying uniforms and packing bags in advance, planning lunches, having your schedule ready, and knowing whether it’s a Dress Up Day or not (don’t forget!).

But while all these things are important, and forethought and a structured routine can reduce stress and anxiety, there are other areas you can

HINT

All strategies work for adults as well as children!

focus on that will have a lasting impact beyond the first day.

The following suggestions are all helpful in the lead up, so that everyone feels energised and excited about what lies ahead. As someone who stepped into the new role as AIS School Principal in January 2022, read on for my tips on making it work.

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Sleep better

School holidays are a wonderful time for families to reconnect. In my household with my children Alex, 20, and Daisy, 16, this usually means that normal sleep schedules go out the window, and evenings fall into a pattern of staying up late playing games or chatting. Sleeping tends to happen more the next day!

Having the right amount of sleep at different stages of a child’s life has a huge impact on their academic performance, health and social interactions. At least a week before the first day of school, start to get your children back into their school sleep pattern and ensure they’re getting enough rest to enable them to make the most of school and life.

Express gratitude

Eat well

There is increasing evidence that being grateful has a positive effect on our wellbeing. Before school starts there’s an opportunity to have this conversation with your children. Reframe the chat from what they’re excited Adam Paterson or nervous about, to what they’re feeling grateful for new School in the coming school year. Have some of your own Principal, (AIS) starting points ready such as ‘I’m grateful to catch up with people I’ve not seen for ages’ or ‘I’m grateful to be able to connect with the families of new children in your class’. Other areas you could However, the voice they be feeling grateful for are new hear the most is their own. opportunities and experiences that The difference that positive being at school brings. self-talk and negative self-talk

As children and teenagers grow and develop, it’s normal for them to feel hungrier and to want to eat more. A balanced diet provides extra energy and nutrients to support this. Eating three regular meals a day with snacks in between will help a teenager to meet their nutritional needs; skipping meals means they’ll miss out on essential vitamins, minerals and carbohydrates, which can leave them feeling sluggish and lacking in concentration. It’s more important than ever that as parents and guardians we act as positive food role models by making healthy choices and enjoying balanced meals as a family.

Don’t panic

Kids really are like sponges, absorbing the energy of those around them. If you’re freaking out over new schedules and hand sanitiser, one of the most helpful things you can do is exude calm and cool, particularly during the lead up to term time. Complete a dry run to the school gate to mitigate any hiccups in advance, but double it up as a fun morning out. Doing so will also

determine what time you need to prep breakfast and when you have to leave the house once reality kicks in. Make everyone put on their school uniform for the exercise too - no one wants to deal with a Mariah Carey-style strop on the actual first day.

Boost confidence

Our children have many people speaking to them - parents, siblings, friends, and also strangers on social media.

HOW MUCH SLEEP DOES MY CHILD NEED? 6 – 12

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10 to13 hours including

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9 to 12 hours

13 – 18 YRS OLD

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8 to 10 hours

naps

can have on a child’s wellbeing, both socially and academically, should not be underestimated. The use and practise of positive self-talk with your child is essential for easing the anxiety of starting a new school year. Create some affirmations they can use on a regular basis such as, ‘I can do hard things’ or ‘I can take risks’ or ‘I like a challenge’. Stick up visible post-it notes around your home and in your kids’ bedrooms if this feels awkward to say out loud. The more you practise it, the more it will become embedded in your daily life, and this will become the voice your children will be using with themselves.

Australian International School (AIS) is located at 1 Lorong Chuan, 556 818. Tel: 6517 0247 (admissions), ais.com.sg

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They’ve gone! Now what?

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Change can often feel difficult, but what if it’s the parent who’s struggling to adjust more than the student?

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ou’ve got through breakfast, a blazer-induced breakdown and sent the little people off to take on the world of academia with both socks on and a smile. You’ve got a glorious day ahead to get on with your life ... then why do you feel so weird?

Whether your child is a new starter, firmly ensconced in Secondary 1, or a college-dwelling teen who hasn’t noticed you for the past two weeks, it’s usual to feel a tug of emotion at the start of a new school term. No, you will not miss the requests for attention/money/food/ screen time, but the change of routine and oddness of life in pandemic times can all add to an overload of feelings.

“The start of school can often trigger a reflection among parents of how quickly time passes and how much things change,” says Meredith Hilton, Social and Emotional Counsellor at the Student Support Services Dulwich College Singapore (DCSG). “It’s normal to feel anxiety, and that can manifest itself in fears for your child or an irrational need to protect them. When the new term starts there can be an element of ‘What do I do now?’ Parents can sense a loss of connection throughout the day and the need to fill their time.”

With a new void in your life, it’s natural that worries about your child’s wellbeing can rise. Common thoughts can be:

What if I miss them too much?

Recognise and make space for your emotions – your anxiety can be transmitted to your children. Consider facing this new era as something fun that you and your child can cope with.

Be confident and acknowledge yours and your child’s feelings and then problem solve together.

The start of school can trigger a reflection among parents of how much things change What if school breaks our bond?

While it may feel tough, it is a normal, healthy stage of child development when children seek to pull away from the parent. They’re attempting to develop an identity apart from their family so try not to take it personally.

What if my child can’t keep up in class?

Teachers will differentiate lessons as much as possible to meet every student where they’re at. There’s also a wide range of learning specialists and counsellors who are there to help support.

What if they struggle to make friends?

Making and keeping friends is a skill, but it can come with challenges. Parents can nurture social skills by reading and

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talking about friendships with their children, planning playdates, practicing listening skills, and building empathy through activities that help others.

What if they don’t like being at school?

Teachers understand and recognise adjustment and settling in periods and have the skills to actively engage students on all levels. While an amount of worry is normal, it’s important to be mindful of when it might be getting out of hand. “As a parent, when our anxiety hinders our ability to solve problems and help our child to solve theirs, it pays to take a step back,” says Nigel Edwards, also a member of the Student Support Services team at DCSG. “We must give our children space.

Worrying is an attempt to control and we do it out of fear. The best thing we can do to show love is to trust the young people

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we’re raising.” Below are some ways you can protect your wellbeing and in turn provide your children with the role model of the super-chill parent that they need.

Reach out to a friend or group.

Community support is so important, and reminds you that you are not alone.

Check out all of the ANZA Activities available, from Ladies Nights to mahjong sessions, that will provide a feeling of belonging and take your mind off things.

Reconnect with a favourite hobby. Or now that you have more time, focus your energy on trying something new.

Journal your feelings. Expressive writing has been scientifically proven to provide myriad benefits including boosting mood, reducing the symptoms of depression, easing trauma and even improving memory.

Make something. Create something with your child like a friendship bracelet that you can both wear as a reminder of one another.

Reach out to the school. Visit the premises so you know your way around and meet the teachers that are regularly involved with your child.

Set up playdates. Introduce your children to classmates before the school year starts so you can get to know their new friends too. This also gives you the opportunity to talk to other parents and meet likeminded people.

Talk about your child’s feelings and thoughts. Open the lines of communication with your child, even if it’s difficult for you to deal with. Doing so will assist you to fully understand what they’re going through and help you to be there if any problems arise.

“Ultimately, you can’t control the experience of your child but you can control how you respond to it,” says Meredith. “Remember to treat yourself with kindness. Know that you’re allowed to feel your feelings and allow yourself time to go through this process.”

For more information about Dulwich College Singapore (DCSG) log onto singapore.dulwich.org

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How To Encourage An Entrepreneurial Spirit When it comes to enterprise skills, start ‘em young. Before long, you might have a mini Dick Smith on your hands!

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e all hope to raise children to have confidence, motivation, determination and resilience. We want them to chase their dreams, but how do we effectively set them up for success when we know the path is tough?

“Encouraging an entrepreneurial spirit in children can help to provide the tools they need to face life head on and give them the ability to rise to challenges rather than shy away from them,” explains Jim Bevan, Business and Economics teacher at Nexus International School (Singapore).

“The workplace is changing quicker than ever, as are the skills required to perform well,” he continues. “Promoting leadership and adaptability, decisionmaking, communication, and an understanding of risk will allow children to thrive in any situation both in and out of the classroom.”

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Jim’s tips for ‘kidpreneur’ magic CREATE OPPORTUNITIES Out-of-the-box thinking and innovation are key to entrepreneurship. At Nexus, we create opportunities for learners to become leaders and involve them in all aspects of school life, from small tasks such as selecting lockers to interviewing prospective teachers.

HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE As early as you can in your child’s life, show them how to take responsibility for their actions while still being supportive. For instance, make sure your child makes their own bed or puts their plate in the sink after eating. Holding them accountable for their behaviour sets them straight on their entrepreneurial path.

ALLOW MISTAKES In the Junior Achievement Company of the Year competition, students apply business management tools to present a vision from idea to product. We don’t give learners answers, but instead allow them to learn from their mistakes.

Knowing how to solve daily problems is a handy life skill!

CHALLENGE IDEAS Also in the competition, our team, Team Revival, had to learn gritty details behind marketing and manufacturing a final product. An initial idea had to be scrapped to reach their final result.

Entrepreneurship taps into a child’s creativity, challenges thoughts and teaches the importance of being open to trying new things.

Nexus International School is at 1 Aljunied Walk, 387293.

Tel +65 6536 6566. nexus.edu.sg

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ways to ease back-toschool stress

Help your kids breeze into their brand new life with this advice on going from leisure time to lessons with your anxiety levels low.

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new school term can be a time of turbulence for children and parents alike. Here, Ron Drisner, pastoral counsellor at Canadian International School (CIS) shares ideas that will make the return to class as calm as possible.

1Get involved

For many students, returning to school can be a difficult adjustment after the carefree Sentosa-soaked routine of their holidays. Starting school can also be challenging for students joining a new school after having just endured international travel and all the current disruption it brings.

A suggestion for those with younger children is to go to the school with your child early on, arrange to meet their teachers, visit their classrooms, and get to know some of their classmates.

For older children, parents can go over their schedule and talk through strategies on how they’re going to approach their first day of school. Covid-19 protocols have limited visitation to schools, but even a virtual orientation or opportunity to meet the teacher can help to set students’ minds at ease.

2Recognise signs

The past two years of uncertainty has likely already raised anxiety-levels for all. With this in mind, keep supporting your child by looking for signs of extra stress. Keep an eye open for red flags like drastic changes in behaviour or mood, fluctuations in their appetite or sleep patterns, as well as signs that they aren’t motivated to do activities or hobbies that they usually can’t get enough of. When you do recognise stress, don’t be afraid to check-in to see how they’re doing.

3Learn to listen

Whatever the age of your child, communication and being present is so

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important in helping them to deal with returning to school. Take time to sit down and actively listen to what they’re looking forward to in the new school year, as well as what might be concerning them.

Be aware of feelings they bring up around the pandemic. Stay empathetic and share your feelings about Covid-19, based on informed and accurate information. Asking how they are feeling not only helps you to get to know them better emotionally, it also shows how much you care and helps lessen any anxiety they might be experiencing.

4Share feelings

What if your child doesn’t know how they’re feeling? It’s not unusual for children and teens to struggle to articulate emotions. Parents can help by assisting their children to expand their emotional literacy. One way of doing this is by having a ‘feeling chart’ posted on the refrigerator or in a child’s room so children (and parents!) can refer to it. A feelings chart has a list of feelings, often accompanied by a picture illustrating the facial expression that might go along with the corresponding feeling word.

Search for ‘printable feelings charts’ online and you’ll find a wide variety of resources available.

5Get a good book

Sleep is so vital to emotional and physical health, and this is especially true for returning to the routine of school.

Start children on a schedule before the first day, and once school has begun, make sure there is consistency when they go to bed. Engage in two to three relaxing activities to help them wind down before falling asleep - indeed, research shows that children who read prior to bed or were read to, often sleep better and longer.

Find out more about Canadian International School (CIS) at cis.edu.sg

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What Teachers Want Parents To Ask Them The best way to ensure that your child thrives at school is to speak to the staff. Here’s the questions they’d love you to raise.

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ot only do teachers educate and guide our children, ensure they remain dressed correctly throughout the day and don’t run away, but they also recieve a private insight into their personal world. Teachers get to know a child’s family through the child’s eyes, and they get to see how they behave without their parent present.

Teachers are allies, and you should talk to them regularly.

American author and educator Helen Keller once said, “Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much.” Never is this more true than in education where the triangular relationship between school, student and parent is paramount for the growth of the student. “The triangle is the strongest shape in architecture but without one side of its structure, it folds and collapses,” explains Bernadette Ward, a Wellbeing Coordinator at Australian International School (AIS). “Education follows a similar pattern. When parents, students and schools act in tandem the results are far more significant than when they find themselves acting individually.”

So, how can we build and strengthen this triangle to ensure a healthy relationship between the three groups?

The answer is communication.

“In all areas, dialogue, agreement and a shared vision, as well as clear expectations from all parties involved, leads to greater outcomes for the student,” adds Duncan Rose, also a Wellbeing Coordinator at AIS. With this in mind, here’s what parents can consider enquiring about:

What are the expectations for my child?

Knowing the school’s expectations might sound obvious but this is a multifaceted issue. It covers the areas of effort, expectations in terms of decorum, dress, attitude, speech, workload, schedule, and much more. Having a full understanding of the expectations will better place a parent to help their child make appropriate decisions, which in turn will improve the chance of their success at school. This can be as simple as understanding the uniform policy so that students don’t start the day by being spoken to by staff, through to the homework allocation, so you can understand roughly how much work should be done at home. By showing interest and learning you’ll make your child aware that you’re interested in their life and development. Sometimes the very act of showing you care can be enough to knock problems on the head before they happen.

How can I help my child?

Students spend around 35 hours a week at school. This is not nearly enough to fulfil the rigorous requirements of twenty-first century curriculums. Part of a child’s journey is the actualisation of developing independence of thought and autonomous study skills. However, that won’t happen if they are left to their own devices. Parents should ask what they can do to help. It could be as simple as overseeing their homework. It might be helping out with flashcard-making.

Maybe it’s being the audience for a dress rehearsal of a presentation. Getting involved in your child’s education builds connections and shows them that what they’re doing greatly matters to you, as well as to the school.

How can I best communicate with teachers?

Every school has preferred methods of communication with staff. Generally, the easiest way to contact teachers is via their school email addresses, and a response should be given within 48 hours. For more urgent or sensitive matters, it may be more appropriate to call staff and share information. For subject related questions, it’s best to contact your child’s subject teacher directly and for socialemotional support, contact your child’s Home Group Teacher, or Head of Year or School Counsellor, as you deem appropriate.

Sharing information that can better assist teachers in helping your child is critical. They may have strengths that are not immediately apparent, and talking to staff will help to promote these, as well as identify and extend new ones.

Discover more about Australian International School (AIS) at ais.com.sg January/February 2022

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Get With The Programme

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From future innovators to rock stars in the making, enrichment programmes can bring something special out in your child in a way that no classroom can.

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Why are Enrichment Programmes important?

They help identify skills and interests not covered during curriculum time.

Often, students engaging in enrichment programmes develop an aptitude for something or discover a natural talent and ability that may not be so obvious in a classroom. It’s through these programmes that you can discover you might be raising the next Monica Galetti or Mick Jagger

Most enrichment programmes promote collaborative learning and encourage students to work together. Group sizes are typically smaller, sometimes with mixed age groups, thereby promoting social skills and mentorship. Each child brings their own perspective and experiences which they’re encouraged to share, building confidence, teamwork and self expression 42 anza

Participating in an enrichment programme within the school environment can be the first step towards active participation in the wider community. Certain programmes foster a sense of social responsibility and an awareness of real world problems.

Students can take part in local outreach as well as supporting larger initiatives that tackle global issues Studies have shown that participating in enrichment programmes leads to increased classroom participation, a desire to share knowledge and experiences with peers, and an overall improvement in academic grades. They promote critical thinking and problem solving skills, making learning more meaningful and valuable

Keep a child learning away from standard lessons and you have the potential to ignite a new passion as well as develop existing skills and interests. Students are encouraged to step out of their comfort zone and to embark on a journey of discovery in a less formal setting.

Points to remember when choosing a programme: YOUR CHILD’S INTERESTS YOUR CHILD’S LEARNING PACE THE ENVIRONMENT TEACHER-PARENT COMMS CLASS SIZE AND COST North London Collegiate School (Singapore) is at 130 Depot Road, 109708.

Tel: +65 6989 3000. nlcssingapore.sg

Shutterstock

school education used to be about attending classes five days a week and knuckling down to some homework. Extra-curricular activities were available, but in many cases they just involved a wind intrument when there was nothing on TV that evening.

But how times have changed! Students in Singapore today have the opportunity to go completely extra with their learning thanks to a multitude of enrichment programmes.

“Enrichment is one of the three core pillars of an NLCS education, serving to support and enhance each student’s academic development as well as help shape their character and personality,” says Mr Phil Edwards, (Vice Principal) Pastoral at North London Collegiate School (Singapore).

“From Amnesty International to Archery, Environment & Sustainability Group to Rock Band, what’s great is that our programmes are not all teacher-led.

We encourage self- initiated activities, managed and run by the students, with our teachers providing mentorship and guidance.”

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School Address: NLCS (Singapore) 130 Depot Road, Singapore 109708 Contact Details Email: enquiries@nlcssingapore.sg Call +65 6955 1430 CPE Registration #: 201621489R Period of Registration: 2019-07-25 to 2023-07-24

AN ACADEMICALLY ambitious EDUCATION supported by outstanding

enrichment OPPORTUNITIES and pastoral care.

Applications for admission are open throughout the year.

SP O N S O R E D F E AT U R E

Invest in Success How do you create a learning environment where students can truly thrive? Singapore American School (SAS) go all in on recruiting and supporting passionate teachers.

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o matter what your age, or where you went to school, everyone has a story to tell about a teacher. Perhaps you were taught by someone with a particularly engaging teaching style, or maybe you were taught by someone who demonstrated patience and encouragement when a subject was challenging.

It’s fair to say that a great teacher can make a huge impact on how positively a student views education and how well they progress. That’s why the teachers are at the core of Singapore American School (SAS): they actively invest in their staff through professional development and coaching, robust research and advancement, and resources that empower their staff to deliver their best each day.

This unwavering focus on employee excellence is one of the reasons why SAS was named one of Singapore’s top 10 employers in 2020 and 2021: the school’s average turnover rate of seven percent is less than its peers, and it attracts over 60 high-quality candidates per opening.

Read on for how SAS are continuously evolving and maintaining their place in the top spot.

Professional development & coaching At SAS, teachers work together in teams to align their lessons and assessments.

They share the best and worst of what happens in their classroom so that every member of staff learns and grows. Throughout the school, there are teacher-coaches who split their time between being in the classroom leading lessons, and visiting their colleague’s classrooms to observe and provide additional coaching.

As new teachers join these groups, they bring their own specific strengths that contribute to the overall growth of the entire team. Additionally, all teachers and instructional assistants have access to professional development funds to address other areas they might be interested in growing.

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Research & development In 2012, SAS embarked on a multi-year research and development project to observe and curate the best educational practices around the world in order to find new and innovative ways to serve students. In all, 75 educators visited over 100 high-performing schools which resulted in over 100 recommendations centered around improving excellence, care, and unlimited learning possibilities for all students.

Here are just a few of the programmes that are now in place at SAS today that came as a direct result of commitment and dedication to the R&D process:

80/20 Chinese Immersion programme that mirrors the English curriculum. Students don’t simply learn a new language, they use their language for learning Quest is a programme for students preparing to graduate that resembles a college-level work-study programme where they gain realworld experience and insight Tri-Time is a project-based experience for middle school students that offers the freedom to explore interests while learning project management skills at the same time

High-quality resources What also came out of the research and development process was a recommendation to create purpose-built structures that would unlock a teacher’s potential. In 2021, SAS began construction on phase one of a new $400 million campus. These structures are being designed intentionally to enhance learning and to improve the overall wellness of the educators and students who use the buildings each day. No more stuffy spaces and scratchy blackboards - the revamp at SAS will give teachers greater “For flexibility, a deeper connection to nature, and more exciting and engaged 30 years, learning opportunities for connection.

I have been given The new campus is using the WELL standard as a roadmap in unmatched opportunities the design process. Educators are involved at every stage of the design process to ensure that each room, space, playground, for growth as an educator. cafeteria, and venue can be used to meet the needs of Singapore American School students. One example of this can be seen in the 175 attracts some of the best percent increase in play space that is planned for teachers in the world and then the new elementary school. Research reveals a direct positive connection between invests in helping them see and learning and movement, so the school realise their full potential” has been mindful about expanding DAVID HOSS, ELEMENTARY SCHOOL areas for purposeful play across PRINCIPAL campus, not just for today’s young generation, but for all the SAS students to come.

“I’ve worked at schools around the world and have never been in an environment that puts so much emphasis on teacher growth. I have the tools, resources, and support I need to deliver engaging and meaningful learning opportunities every day”

If you’re interested in learning more about how your child can take advantage of the excellence, extraordinary care, and possibilities provided by teachers at SAS, contact sasinfo@sas.edu. sg or visit sas.edu.sg.

ANA MARIA TORRES, MIDDLE SCHOOL TEACHER

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SP O N S O R E D C O N T E N T

If your child is between 10-15 years old, it’s wise to consider booking them in for a HPV vaccine. Here’s why.

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hile Covid vaccinations have dominated our minds for the past few years, it’s important not to forget about other essential vaccines that protect the safety of our family. Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a common group of viruses, often affecting young adults while showing no symptoms. A November 2021 study published in The Lancet confirmed that the HPV vaccine can cut cases of cervical cancer in the UK by 87%. The results were hailed as powerful evidence that the vaccine has prevented, and will continue to prevent, thousands of young people from falling ill. Dr Neil Forrest from Osler Health International discusses the vaccine and what protection it can offer.

WHAT IS HPV? There are approximately 100 different strains of the HPV virus that can infect humans. Of these, around 14 different types can infect the genital region, and around 80% of sexually active people come into contact with at least one type of HPV. Most get no symptoms, remain oblivious, and the virus goes away on its own. In some people, HPV causes warts.

WHAT ARE THE RESULTS OF THE VACCINE? The vaccine prevents infection from human I recommend the HPV vaccination for papillomavirus, the all girls and boys. The Age of Consent in group of viruses Singapore is 16, but the vaccination tends behind 90% of to be carried out between 10-14 (to be most cervical cancer effective, it should be administered before someone is sexually active). The vaccine cases. Australia consists of two doses which take place was one of the six months apart in children aged 15 and first countries to under. For those over 15, an extra dose implement a national is required. Research suggests the vaccination programme vaccines provide near 100% for girls in 2007 and protection for many years. included boys from 2013.

Who should be vaccinated against HPV?

What’s the

As a result, the HPV rate link between HPV among women aged 18 and cancer? to 24 dropped from 22 There are around 100 strains of HPV percent to one percent virus. Of these, around 14 types can between 2005 and infect the genital region, and around 80% of sexually active people come into 2015. In the UK it has contact with one type of HPV. Most get been given to girls aged no symptoms and the virus goes away 12 and 13 since 2008, on its own. For some, HPV and in 2019 it was made causes warts. In an unlucky few, available to teenage boys. the virus can cause cervical A recent Cancer Research and other genital study found that cervical cancer cancers. rates in women offered the vaccine between the ages of 12 and 13 (now in their 20s) were 87% lower than in an unvaccinated population.

ARE THERE ANY SIDE EFFECTS? Side effects are rare and include those which are common to most vaccines – pain and redness at the injection site, fever and aches. The vaccine is given with the patient sitting or lying down incase of fainting (which can be common amongst teenage girls). We observe everyone following the injection to make sure they’re okay.

DOES IT INTERACT WITH COVID VACCINES? We don’t think so, but as a precaution I advise leaving at least a two-week gap between any Covid-19 vaccination and other vaccine doses. The HPV vaccine can be given at the same time as a tetanus booster and is often done so, as these vaccines are often due to be given once around 12-14-years old. If your child is between 10-15 years old, you may wish to book in for their HPV vaccine. If you have questions please call Osler Health International and we will happily advise.

HOW CAN A GP HELP?

Make an appointment on 6339 2727 or by visiting osler-health.com

Dr Neil Forrest is a British GP based at Osler Health International at Star Vista (just off Holland Road)

January/February 2022

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T H E ST Y L E F I L E

Fed up with your own four walls? Read on for the hottest interior design trends and how our home style will develop as we enter the new year.

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f you thought 2021 embraced some bolder interior design trends, hold on tight! Style-wise we’re in for an daring year with an increased global focus on sustainability, contrasting patterns and a more interesting, yet multifunctional home aesthetic. Stylist Juliet Harper shares her top tips for adding a splash of new to 2022.

1Biophilic touches

The idea of biophilia and the use of indoor plants bringing the outdoors in continues to be a popular choice, especially as studies have shown plants help to lower stress, anxiety, and improve mood. Hardy plants such as the Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree offer an attractive pop of green and also help with sound absorption (which is often overlooked in the likes of condos). Accent tables with oversized tree branches, or deconstructed bunches of flowers add scale, height and beauty. Far East Flora (fareastfloragarden.com) have great greenery to choose from.

Wonderous wall panels designed

by Nat Maks at Bode

2Blue in the bedroom

The Modern Collector, @ LibertyFabrics contemporary interiors collection

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Blue of all shades is popular once again, but more so in bedrooms. Departing from solidly painted feature walls seen in other rooms of the house, wallpaper in blue and white Chinoise and florals is making a comeback. Bode (bode.com.sg) at the Tan Boon Liat building carry an extensive range of unique wallpaper featuring standout patterns. Complement with contrasting textures such as silk and velvet. Also, the Liberty fabrics (libertyfabric.com/) has gorgeous varieties of wallpaper and home furnishings.

The LAPIS collections from Liberty fabrics

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3Sustainability

We’re seeing a greater demand for organic and sustainable building materials and less mass produced furniture. With supply chain issues due to the pandemic, consumers are opting for more readily available options. Call them antiques, retro or vintage, used furniture is en vogue spurred on by the “slow ethos” movement.

TIP: Check out Hock Siong (hocksiong.com.sg) and visit Junkies Corner (junkiescorner.com).

Find stunning and sustainable pieces at Hock Siong

5Retro textiles

This year it’s all about being brave with mixing contrasting patterns for an eclectic and personal mix. For more of a luxurious and formal feel, embrace vibrant, bold colours of retro-inspired floral and geometric prints. Laura Ashley (amazon.sg) have released a superb range of wallpapers and fabrics inspired by the 1930s-50s textiles. Fabrica at People’s Park Complex is the place to go.

to 4 Back black

Black is being utilised more on doors, trims and fixtures to enhance simple features. Metal doors in steel and glass are being used internally to close off once open-plan spaces and provide a statement in themselves. Move over brass and rose gold tapware, matt black in both bathrooms and kitchens is becoming a 2022 preference.

TIP: Create the illusion of space by adding a large black iron mirror from Amara (amara.com) or Urban Mood (urbanmood.sg).

Juliet Harper is the owner of The Style Affair, offering interior design and styling services, the-styleaffair.com

Natural woods, warm tones and a neutral colour aesthetic will continue to dominate in 2022. Herringbone flooring in oak or a lighter wood grain will make a comeback, surpassing the classic plank pattern. Pair with neutral colour paint bases such as off-whites with a warmer tone. This will open a room and give the feeling of more space and light.

TIP: Update rooms with neutral linen cushions in beige and khaki from Maison de Vacances (maisondevacances.com).

7Transitional spaces

Innovative room ideas throughout the home continue to be important as we spend more time staying in. Room dividers, shelving, consoles and lighting help to create reading nooks, study areas and quiet zones. Two tables in a room may work better than one; one for work and one for dining. Add a desk lamp that provides ample light when studying but more ambience in the evening (such as The Artemide Tolomeo lamp, lifestorey. com). Large multi-cornered sofas from Originals (originals.com.sg) or B&B Italia, (spacefurniture.com.sg) placed centrally in a room can act as a partition and provide several spaces (especially as we all need some me-time now and then).

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Bode.com.sg, Instagram@LibertyFabrics, libertyfabric.com, Hock Siong, instagram@hocksiong and Shutterstock

6Natural accents

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SP O N S O R E D C O N T E N T

7 Tips to Negotiate Your Australian Home Loan The Australian home loan market is highly competitive, but don’t feel discouraged. To strike a successful deal you just need a little preparation, say the experts at Odin Mortgage.

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s an expat, you might think your home loan options are minimal. Indeed, many banks are unwilling to lend cash to expats. However, this doesn’t mean that you have to take the first offer handed to you. In fact, expats have as much right (and power) to negotiate their home loans from afar as those living in Australia. Here are seven key tips to bear in mind before approaching a lender.

1Shop Around

The first thing to remember is that you’re not bound to stay with the same bank you have always used. Quite the opposite. It’s best practice to shop around to look at all your options before settling on a lender.

Do your research to discover which lenders are friendly to expats and where you might get the best rates. Find out what the market rate is so you know what you should be paying when it comes to negotiations. Expats should not pay higher interest rates than Australian permanent residents unless you cannot provide proof of your income.

Don’t be afraid to leave your current lender if elsewhere is offering a better rate. You can even use your market research to negotiate with your current lender who might provide you with a better deal if they fear you’ll go somewhere else.

Your net income (your annual salary minus any income tax) Your net expenses (e.g. rent, transport, school fees, holidays) Your ongoing liabilities (e.g. credit cards and loans) Minus your expenses and liabilities from your income after tax, you’ll have the amount of money you can spend on mortgage repayments. This will give you a good idea of how big a loan you can approach the bank for. However, this is where it might get tricky for expats. While banks consider the entirety of an Australian income, they’re less willing to look at your total income if you earn in a foreign currency.

2Know Your Borrowing Power

As well as conducting market research, you should also know how much you can borrow. To understand this fully, you need to be aware of:

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5Don’t Be Afraid To Ask Banks might only consider 50-80% of your net income, depending on the stability of your foreign income currency, to protect themselves against exchange rates. Most lenders will accept USD, GBP, EUR, SGD, AED, HKD, and NZD. Make sure you take this into account when considering your borrowing power.

3Have A Strong Credit Score

A strong credit score will help anyone negotiate a better home loan. A score between 600 and 850 is considered ideal, particularly as an expat, as banks may be suspicious of your foreign income. Maintaining a good record of repaying loans will prove your worth to the lender, and you’ll have a better chance at securing a lower interest rate. You might also want to provide statements showing your repayments as far back as you can.

4Save A Hefty Deposit

The bigger your deposit, the more chance you have to secure lower interest rates and better loan terms. Expats are required to provide a down payment that is a minimum 20%30% of the property value.

Generally speaking, the lower your loan to value ratio, the better the loan deal you’re likely to get. You can calculate your LVR by dividing the amount of money you plan to borrow by the property value.

Similarly, ensure that you have steady employment and evidence of a foreign income. Be aware that if you’re selfemployed, it might hinder your negotiations. Make sure you can show the required documentation, such as tax returns.

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Ever heard the phrase “Don’t ask, don’t get”? Well, this is certainly true when negotiating your home loan. If you see lower interest rates offered to new customers than what you discussed, request that you receive the same rates. The same goes for if a competitive bank is offering better rates. You can use this as a bargaining tool if you wish to stay with the same lender or refinance your loan elsewhere.

Even if you only manage to reduce your interest rate by 0.5%, this can have quite significant long term savings. Don’t be afraid to strike up the conversation with your lender; what have you got to lose?

6Be Mindful Of Ongoing Fees

Remember that your interest rates are not the only thing on the negotiation table. Ongoing fees, such as service fees or administrative costs, are all open to a bit of bartering. For instance, a $10 monthly fee might add up to $3,000 over a twenty-five-year mortgage.

7Call In The Experts

If you’re still struggling to negotiate the best loan deal, don’t hesitate to call in the experts before signing a contract you’re happy with. Odin Mortgage is available to find the right home loan to suit your circumstances and haggling the terms on your behalf. Don’t forget we are here for you!

Odin Mortgage is a leading Australian mortgage brokerage for Australian expats and overseas residents globally.

Get in touch today for advice on how you can negotiate better home loan terms. odinmortgage.com / 3158 0138

January/February 2022

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In with

the new

Balance the feng shui in your home and it could bring better health, wealth and happiness for 2022.

JO UPCRAFT preps for CNY with an expert session.

C

hances are you’ve grown very familiar with your home environment over the past year.

And if you think nothing has changed inside your four walls, the ancient Chinese practice of feng shui might make you reconsider. “Every year, feng shui moves throughout your house,” explains Mae Kwan White, wellness creative and founder of Mase Lifestyle (maselifestyle.com) as we chat on my sofa in Tiong Bahru . “As it does, it spreads good and bad energy which affects the success, career, health, and relationships of those who live in that space,” she continues, “much like a living being, feng shui energy is changing and evolving constantly, just as we are.”

Former architect and interior designer

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Mae has come to my apartment to put her years of working with renowned Hong Kong feng shui master Chow Ho Ming, and her certified feng shui expertise into practice.

Mystical maths

I’m initially apprehensive that Mae might tell me to remove a wall, but she assures me that is not how her personalised home readings work. “I never tell a client how to furnish their home, or suggest major structural changes,” she says. “I work out where the positive and negative chi is, and share practical tips on how to improve the balance. While you cannot change the feng shui at that time, there are things you can do to encourage a better flow until the energy moves again.”

After walking Mae through my house (and trying to draw attention away from my husband’s five - yes, five - bikes), I leave her alone to do some ‘mystical maths’. “Numerology (using numbers 1-9) pinpoints what energy is where. I merge this scientific aspect of feng shui with the layout of your space; the elements of earth, wind, water, fire and air; and my training and spiritual intuition,” she says. Here’s some tips Mae shared about my surroundings.

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Where the good vibes are

The best thing to do in a “good energy area” is to spend time in it and to utilise the chi. Make the space work for you so you want to physically be there: Introduce bright flowers in bright colours such as peonies, flamingo lillies or heliconia Bring in a fire element to positive spaces with candles Water elements are a plus point. No space to install a waterfall? Bamboo plants work just as well Move your desk into good energy areas if you’re working from home Place a Himalayan Salt Lamp here and have it on constantly. Use a pink one as it represents fire (as opposed to white which represents metal) Mirrors represent water in feng shui and are best placed in a positive energy zone Green and blue hues also signify water and stimulate the flow of good chi

and try not to adopt the “coffin position” where your feet point towards the door. Place your headboard against a solid wall, with space on the other three sides of the bed.

Where the bad vibes are

Open your windows

Cross-ventilation will increase the flow of good chi. Also, as windows represent the eyes of the inhabitants, clean your windows regularly!

Fan it out

Remember that any wall, ceiling or standing fan will increase the flow of energy whether it’s good or bad.

This is great for positive areas, but not advised for negative ones.

Clear the clutter

Love your front door

The front door is literally and metaphorically where energy enters your home, and it can be an incredibly auspicious area. Keep it clean and clutterfree and don’t neglect it.

Where’s your bed at?

If you’re having trouble sleeping, your chi may be to blame. Avoid having doors that open directly in line with the bed,

Having too much clutter stores stagnant energy and impacts your mood.

“Clutter is believed to take up valuable space that new incoming energy needs,” explains Mae. “Remove blockages - rid your rooms of unncessary stuff and create space to bring in an abundance of health, wealth and prosperity as we bring in the new lunar year.” I’m just building up to telling my husband and his bikes the bad news …

Find out more about Mae’s work on instagram @maselifestyle or log onto maselifestyle.com January/February 2022

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Shutterstock

There will always be bad energy somewhere in your home, you just have to locate where! Once you do, it’s best not to sleep, eat, or spend much time in that area until the vibe shifts.

Something metal that is round and moves is best placed amongst negative chi. “I recommend a round metal clock. Windchimes are another option as long as they move,” says Mae Avoid putting water, plants or flowers here - you don’t want to have anything that flourishes Stay away from bright white light in your home, but particularly here.

Stick to warm and golden glows Beware of ‘number 5’ energy. In feng shui, it’s called ‘the misfortune star’ and considered the worst type.

Explains Mae; “It’s linked to misfortunes like accidents, loss of wealth, illnesses and so on. While working as an architect, prospective homeowners would avoid anywhere with number 5 energy at the front door.”

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SP O N S O R E D C O N T E N T

STEVE SETTLE, Partner at Select Investors, answers a reader’s question on the fundamental principles of investing.

What are the key factors to investing well?

T

here’s a lot of confusing terminology and industry jargon bandied around the investment world, but the fundamentals of smart investing boil down to a small number of simple maxims that can also apply to other areas of life.

BEGIN WITH THE END IN MIND

a thickness roughly the width of your hand, but if it’s folded 20 times it will be 10km high, which makes it higher than Mount Everest. I’m not suggesting that money can be doubled every year, but compounding at just 5% can produce significant returns (especially if added to regularly with additional investment).

MANAGE YOUR EMOTIONS

“Begin with the end in mind,” wrote author Stephen Covey in his book The 7 Habits of Highly Successful People. Life is a journey and to complete any journey successfully, you need a map; a map focuses your mind on the outcome and gives you the route required to get there.

Without one, you are “flying blind” so set aside time to imagine where you want to be in the future (and don’t be afraid to dream big), then define step-bystep what you need to do to get there.

Periodically reflect on your progress, pausing as you go to check if you’re on the right track and whether you need to make any adjustments.”

MAGIC OF COMPOUNDING

Human beings experience losses asymmetrically more severely than equivalent gains. An overwhelming fear of loss can cause investors to behave irrationally and make bad decisions, such as holding onto a stock for too long or selling too soon. It’s the reason why, after the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) that started in December 2007, retail investors didn’t return to investing until 2013, well after the GFC was over and markets had recovered to pre-crash levels. Efforts must be made to take the emotion out of investment decisions.

DON’T PUT YOUR EGGS IN ONE BASKET

different ways to diversify and the more you can utilise the better. For example, you can diversify by the number of holdings, asset categories, sectors, geographies and currencies, and also use investment managers with different investment styles.

Steve Settle works in tandem with Tristan Perry, Head of Tax at Select Investors Australia, to support expatriates with financial wellbeing through integrated tax and wealth planning during their time in Singapore and beyond.

The value of an investment with St. James’s Place will be directly linked to the performance of the funds selected and may fall as well as rise. You may get back less than you invested.

Please note that Select Investors, a Partner Practice of St. James’s Place (Singapore) Private Limited and Select Investors Australia Pty Ltd, do not work in legal partnership with each other and both are representatives of separate entities.

Diversification is key to investment success. Invest in a range of assets that Albert Einstein once described have the potential to grow in value and compound interest as the “eighth wonder protect you against inflation. There are of the world” - interest on interest, and gains upon gains that take time to materialise but once Contact Steve on steve.settle@sjpp.asia or +65 9776 0969 to arrange a certain values are reached consultation and discuss your planning needs for your financial future. they become significant.

A piece of paper folded in half 10 times will result in The ‘St. James’s Place Partnership’ and the titles ‘Partner’ and ‘Partner Practice’ are marketing terms used to describe St. James’s Place representatives.

Members of the St. James’s Place Partnership in Singapore represent St. James’s Place (Singapore) Private Limited, which is part of the St. James’s Place Wealth Management Group,and it is regulated by the Monetary Authority of Singapore and is a member of the Investment Management Association of Singapore and Association of Financial Advisers (Singapore). Company Registration No. 200406398R. Capital Markets Services Licence No. CMS100851.

St. James’s Place Wealth Management Group Ltd Registered Office: St. James’s Place House, 1 Tetbury Road, Cirencester, Gloucestershire, GL7 1FP, United Kingdom. Registered in England Number 02627518.

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2022 Scholarships Available www.dovercourt.edu.sg

T +65 6775 7664

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Dover Court International School (Pte) Ltd is registered with the Committee for Private Education. CPE Registration No: 197100313E

Registration Period: 05/07/2019 to 04/07/2023. The Committee for Private Education (CPE) is part of SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG).

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16/12/2021 2:06:59 PM

HO T SP O T S

DRINK RAF DALMAU lives the high life with some whisky tasting in honour of the Yamazaki 55, alongside a stunning omakase pairing menu created by Ren Lounge Chef Samuel Liu.

REN LOUNGE

30 BEACH ROAD #01-01, 189763 JW MARRIOT HOTEL Renlounge.sg house.suntory.com

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hen released, vintage whiskies usually attract a certain type of enthusiast - usually one who loves collecting and boasts big pockets but even they’d have to think twice about buying a bottle of the Yamazaki 55. This blend of single malts distilled in the 60s by the revered House of Suntory became the most expensive Japanese whisky in the world in 2020 after fetching over one million Singapore dollars at a Bonhams auction in Hong Kong.

It’s understandable then, that when ANZA were invited to attend a tasting of Yamazaki selections at Ren Lounge as part of the Yamazaki 55 launch presentation in Singapore, I went along feeling very thirsty!

Full disclosure: we didn’t get to taste this rare whisky. However, we were treated to the exceptional range of Yamazaki selections. Ren Lounge Chef Samuel Liu allowed his own artistry to come through via a stunning omakase menu that paired seamlessly with the rich notes of each Yamazaki bottle.

Our welcome drink was a refreshing highball prepared with Yamazaki Distillers Reserve which made the perfect companion to our starters of oysters, smoked eel and Chawanmushi with a lemon dashi jelly. For me, the Distillers Reserve is an outstanding bottle starting with red berries that quickly transform into honey, vanilla and a dash of cinnamon.

Next was the Yamazaki 12, the flagship of House of Suntory’s whisky. In classic Yamazaki style the berries are ever present along with some zest, apples and almonds which matched perfectly with our charred mackerel and sushi selection.

After finishing the seafood dishes, the multi-award winning

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Yamazaki 18 arrived. The nose is full of dry fruits, caramel, vanilla, and a dash of Mizunara oak. The palate provides a burst of spiciness and the long finish transforms into delicate berries, malt and oak. It was an outstanding pairing with the sweet nuttiness of our wagyu beef.

The room was buzzing with anticipation for the Yamazaki 25 tasting, another multi-award winner. A whisky enthusiast friend actually recommended this whisky to me back in 2010 whilst visiting Tokyo - he said it was special and he was right! Back then you could find a bottle under SGD$200 at the airport, today it sells for over SGD$15K. Plenty has been written about this legendary whisky and before the Yamasaki 55, it was the oldest release by House of Suntory. This remarkable 25-year-old has been aged in the best sherry casks for the entire maturation period adding fragrant layers of dry fruit and oak. It has a striking dark coffee/port colour as if impersonating a dark Spanish brandy with a nose full of rich plums, dry figs, prunes, and oak. The palate is complex but extraordinarily balanced, and the buttery long finish brought delicate hints of chocolate and caramel.

VERDICT: While I felt fortunate to sample all of the whiskies, the Yamazaki 25 tasting was the highlight. The room filled with ooohs and aaahs at each sip from all invitees. It was a superb presentation by the House of Suntory and trying the selection side-by-side has renewed my admiration for Yamazaki whiskies.

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EAT

We embraced Mother Nature at Open Farm Community where their new communal Farm Feast and fabulous organic wine selection make a meal to remember.

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s a girl who grew up in the heart of the countryside, I am au fait with a fresh vegetable. An earth-tinged potato, a bright green string bean, and a crunchy carrot complete with its leafy bits are a taste of home for me, which - let’s face it - is something that many expats are hungry for right now.

So, it’s with great joy that Open Farm Community (OFC) has launched a new ‘Farm Feast’ menu full of dishes packed with ingredients that are sustainably produced and humanely farmed from trusted local suppliers and vegetables handpicked from their on-site garden.

The new family-style tasting menu was conceived on the back of increasing dine-in restrictions and pandemic fatigue. Eating at home can feel monotonous, dining

out can feel stressful. With this in mind, founder Cynthia Chua worked with head chef Oliver Truesdale to create ‘Farm Feast’.

Offering hearty and healthful meals in a relaxed setting, the aim is to reignite the fun of restaurant dining and to bring people together through communication and communal food (like the good ol’ days).

The relaxed setting at OFC works from the get-go. My friend and I both arrive for dinner after a busy day, and the twinkly fairy lights, warm tropical breeze, and our table being on the outdoor deck in between the actual crops works magic on us. With a glass of natural wine in hand (they host over 1000 organic and biodynamic wines from around the world), we are good to go.

We keep our set-menu pescatarian, keen to see the veggies sparkle as the stars of the show. The bar begins high with Cauliflower Wings (shaped like chicken drumettes) which are coated in an addictive tamarind miso sauce and sprinkles of sesame and green onions. Every flavourful bite feels gently chewy on the outside and melt-in-your-mouthin the middle (and also, nothing like cauliflower!). The SG Grown Radishes feel completely unique here in Singapore and present a raw crunch of purple, accompanied by lashings of cultured cream and a sourdough crumble. Locally sourced pumpkins come smashed with splashes of wild honey, mustard and seeds for a nutty crunch.

Fresh Seared Hokkaido scallop medallions arrive atop a creamy Hokkaido corn puree seasoned with ground black lime and a hit of wasabi.

The house-farmed OFC Farm Sweet Corn - blistered till sweet and served with a dip of green peppercorn, shimichi and olive oil makes us forget that meat exists altogether.

While we’re reliably informed that the Grassfed NZ Short Ribs, doused with mole sauce and three treatments of local onions, is a firm favourite, we’re hooked on herbage. The steamed Tiberias Barramundi fillet in smoked mussels cream, smoked ikura and puffed pulut hitam, is chunky, light and boasts an Asian familiarity without being overpowering.

Integral to the experience are the accompaniments. All orders come with Ancient Grains and Seeds, and house-made pickles such as QJ’s Kimchi - a take on the Korean staple that ferments the likes of broccoli stems and melon rinds in spice.

Closing the feast, we cleansed our palates with a refreshing Cucumber Sorbet before nose-diving into a decadent chocolate dessert made from Single Origin beans.

VERDICT: Gather a gang together for the communal sharing of wholesome dishes that provide a taste of great food and freedom. Just don’t expect me to give you any of my Cauliflower Wings.

Open Farm Community’s Farm Feast caters to all dietary requirements and requires the whole table’s participation starting at S$88 pp from 6pm-9pm daily.

Dishes change seasonally.

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RECIPE

PINEAPPLE AND COCONUT GOLDEN GALETTE Pineapples are auspicious during CNY as they symbolise wealth and good luck. Don’t mind us as we dive into several servings of this dessert by Baker & Cook.

ROUGH PUFF PASTRY

250g bread or strong flour 1 tsp salt 220g butter 1 tsp lemon juice 150ml cold water

1. Place the flour and salt in a large bowl. Break the butter into small chunks (1cm x 1cm), add them gently to the flour, making sure not to break the pieces up.

2. Add cold water and mix until you have a dough mass. Use your hands to form a rectangle.

3. Place the dough onto a floured work surface and roll in one direction until you have a length of around 50cm x 20cm wide.

4. Keep edges straight and even. Don’t overwork the butter streaks; you should achieve a marbled effect.

5. Fold the top third of the dough down to the centre, then the bottom third up and over that. Give the dough a quarter turn (to the left or right) and roll out to the same length. Fold as before and repeat a total of three times. Cover with cling film and let it sit for at least one hour or overnight.

CREME PATISSERIE (MAKE THE DAY BEFORE)

4 egg yolks 1 tsp vanilla Zest 1 orange 250ml whole milk 50g granulated sugar 20g cornflour

1. Bring the milk, vanilla and orange zest to the boil in a saucepan. While waiting, beat the four egg yolks together with the sugar and the cornflour in a mixing bowl.

2. Pour the hot milk over the mixture while whisking the whole time.

3. Return the mixture to the saucepan and bring it back to simmer, whisking until it thickens. Remove from the heat and allow to cool.

EGG WASH “This pastry 1 whole egg is perfect for Chinese 1 tblsp milk New Year as it reminds me of the golden ingot and the Mix together pineapple fruit symbolises wealth and use as and prosperity. The all-butter required. crust of this pastry is crisp and APRICOT complements the sweet and GLAZE juicy burst of flavour from the 100g apricot pineapple chunks” jam – GROUP EXECUTIVE CHEF JENNA WHITE AT BAKER & COOK GROUP

4 tablespoons water

Place jam and water in a saucepan and bring to the boil.

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Strain through a sieve and brush on the tart while both the glaze and tart are hot.

METHOD

1. Preheat the oven to 220°C. 2. Gently roll your pre-made Rough Puff Pastry dough onto a floured work surface and make a square 33cm x 33cm, ensuring a thickness of 3–4mm.

3. Cut the dough into 8cm x 11cm rectangles, using a knife to create small indents around the border for a little decoration.

4. Pipe the Creme Patisserie cream in a zigzag motion into the middle of the dough, taking care not to cross the border lines. Top with 6 pieces of canned pineapple (1 pineapple ring is cut into 4).

5. Cover the border with pre-made Egg Wash and bake in the pre-heated oven for 18–22 minutes or at least until golden.

6. Remove and cool completely.

7. Using a blow torch, gently torch the pineapple pieces then coat with the Apricot Glaze. Sprinkle with toasted coconut flakes and edible flowers.

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GONG XI FA CAI!

TUCKE R B OX

RAELENE TAN wishes everyone good wealth, health and happiness this Chinese New Year, and explains some traditions that come with the celebrations.

T

he Lunar New Year of the Tiger 2022 will bring joy to many with its emphasis on bravery, enthusiasm and confidence. Commencing on Tuesday 1 February, festivities continue for 15 days until Tuesday 15 February. While restrictions ease a little, this is also an opportune time to celebrate at home, incorporating our own unique ways into this colourful festival, gleaned from our interactions with locals here or in neighbouring countries.

ON THE EVE

ON THE DAY

An “open house” is traditional on New Year’s Day, incorporating the same decorations and snacks, both traditional and

of your own interpretation. Sliced barbecued pork, groundnuts in their shells, chocolates enclosed in gold-foil, and colourful kueh (cakes) can be complemented by stuffed eggs, chilled prawns, strawberry cheesecake, lamingtons with strawberry jam centres, as well as pavlova with strawberries and bananas – all keeping to auspicious red and gold colours. Don’t forget to have ubiquitous local pineapple tarts ready to offer. Customary red date tea (simply simmering dried red dates and dried longans) sweetly binds everything together harmoniously.

IN CONCLUSION

The fifteenth night of CNY celebrations, Tuesday 15 February, is known as ‘Chap Goh Mei’, and plays host to a final customary family dinner. Red lanterns are the usual decoration. Popiah is the chosen meal in our home, with everyone at the dinner table wrapping their chosen ingredients, taken from central platters, in spring roll skins. This dish may also be ordered from popiah vendors; try Qi Ji Catering (qiji.com.sg). Tang (hot soup) yuan (ball) dessert traditionally completes

Born in Adelaide, Raelene Tan is an etiquette consultant and a food and travel writer. She has authored five books and has been a regular guest on radio and television.

this meal and also the celebrations, symbolising family unity, harmony and sweetness. Tang yuan may be purchased, frozen, at supermarkets. If you prefer, substitute mandarins or pineapple tarts.

ENJOY

With everyone dressed in their best, traditional hongbao (red envelopes containing money in even numbers) are prepared as gifts for children and mandarins (two is the preferred number) as auspicious gifts for adults.

The exchange of offerings comes with positive expectations for the year ahead.

Whichever way we choose to entertain, it’s always fun to embrace the local culture and perhaps initiate our own traditions, as we give thanks.

To one and all: “Gong Xi Fa Cai!” (“A Wish for Prosperity!”)

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On New Year’s Eve, the Family Reunion Dinner is a much-anticipated part of CNY. Set the table with colourful linen and round plates, home-decorate with auspicious red and gold touches, fill vases with chrysanthemums or potted kumquats, garlanded pussy willows (we place ours in an umbrella-stand, due to the plants’ tall stature) and bowls of mandarins which represent good luck.

Complete with Chinese background music such as Teresa Teng’s emotive vocals.

Pre-dinner nuts, seeds and crisps with champagne or orange juice will tempt appetites for the traditional steamboat to follow, when diners cook their own choice of food at the table in the bubbling broth.

Ingredients are taken from central platters of sliced raw meat, poultry, fish and vegetables, plus fish-balls, prawn-balls and noodles with accompanying sauces of soy and chilli. Mandarins are the main choice for dessert. Chinese tea, red wine or other colourful drinks complete the feast. This concept is ideal for being not too taxing on the host, while also creating camaraderie at the table.

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TA ST E BU D S

Say goodbye to soggy sarnies with tasty and inspiring school lunchbox ideas your kids will want to show-off about.

Muesli bars and bliss balls can be frozen if you make a batch. Keep it simple, and keep fun or fancy food for the weekends and special occasions.

Where’s good to shop for healthy foods in Singapore?

I love Culina for unusual ingredients, and I also pick up food from wet markets.

Nothing lasts very long in this humid climate, so it’s important to do regular supermarket visits to make sure you have fresh produce.

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oming up with healthy and nutritious ideas for kids’ packed lunches can be a chore. If you’re like us, you start a new school term full of wild concepts including vegetables and salad. Three weeks down the line it’s Vegemite or nothing.

“A lunch box should be about balance; use less packaged food and don’t forget the occasional treat,” says Elizabeth-Anne Theodoros, CEO and owner of Dipsy Dips (dipsy-dips.com). “The last thing parents and guardians need is more pressure, especially in these trying times. So much food can be pre-prepared and frozen, so make batch cooking your friend.”

Here she shares how to keep things tasty, nourishing, and interesting.

What’s on your hitlist for a healthy lunchbox for kids?

Ideally a lunchbox has some complex carbs like breads, grains and protein like chicken or eggs. Think of easy to eat foods in small portions, plus a little treat.

The key is to give children foods that will actually get eaten.

Where should you start?

I pretty much ate the same lunch every day at school back in Australia, with the exception of a Tuck Shop lunch once a week! So I’d recommend getting your little people involved. Ask what they’d like, and create a balance from there.

Wraps seem to be having a moment. A lot of children love pasta salads or fried rice, but add a piece of cut-up fruit to the box.

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What drinks work?

Water is always best and all that’s really needed. Add freshly squeezed juice to the water to make it more fun. Coconut water is also great for busy little bodies in Singapore’s heat.

How can you make your life easier when prepping lunch every day?

So much can be frozen and wrapped in single portions. For instance, a ham and cheese sandwich freezes perfectly and will defrost by midday. Vegetables do not freeze for sandwich fillings but simple proteins do. Buy a good quality loaf of bread and pop a batch of sandwiches in the freezer. Vegetable sticks can be prepared and cut and stored in water in the fridge - they’ll last around 3-4 days and stay crisp.

Tell us about your collaboration with Little Farms ...

I’m thrilled to be launching Dipsy Dips - a range of eight dips - with Little Farms in the new year.

So far there are five versions of hummus, including Original, Fresh Herbs, Thai Pumpkin &

Peanut, Sweet Chilli & Ginger Jam and an Almond Dukkah. I have soaked a tonne of chickpeas, squeezed many lemons and peeled thousands of garlic cloves! Little Farms only deals with local artisans to maintain the freshest ingredients, which is so important when most of Singapore’s food is imported.

How can you upgrade lunchboxes for teens and adults?

Choose foods that can be heated or served in a thermos. I send my partner to work with meals such as chilli, slow braised chicken cacciatore, pulled pork and simple stir-fries with minimum sauce that I batch cook on a Sunday.

More of Elizabeth’s box-faves

• Savoury muffins • Falafel • Curry puffs • Noodle & pasta salads • Corn fritters • Frittata • Hard boiled eggs • Vegetable sushi • Meatballs • Pumpkin & feta sausage rolls • Greek salad without dressing • Marinated chicken legs • Hummus with vegetables for dipping • Easy to peel fruit or cut-up fruit • Crunchy veg like broccoli, snow peas, sweet beans, mini capsicum, cherry tomatoes, olives, celery & carrot

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PITA BREAD PIZZAS

Individual pita breads Tomato paste or tinned chopped tomatoes.

Cheddar or mozzarella Vegetables such as olives, roasted cherry tomatoes, red peppers, mushrooms and roasted eggplant (as requested by my young friend, Fred) Parmesan cheese

1. Spread a spoonful of tomato paste or tinned chopped tomatoes onto the pita bread.

2. Scatter on cheddar or mozzarella.

3. Top with vegetables.

4. Top with a tiny sprinkling of cheese and cook in a hot oven for five minutes or until bubbling.

MINI FRITTATA

6 eggs ½ cup of cream 1 cup baby spinach chopped 100g cooked smoked turkey 2 spring onions finely chopped Salt & pepper

1. Preheat oven to 180 degrees and grease a muffin pan. You can also pop the mixture into patty pans.

2. Whisk eggs and cream in a bowl.

3. Add spinach, turkey, spring onions and salt and pepper, and spoon into the prepared muffin pans.

4. Cook for 15-20 minutes. Allow to cool.

PESTO PASTA SALAD

Cooked pasta shapes of choice Pesto made with 1 bunch of basil, 1 cup grated parmesan, pepper and olive oil Oven dried cherry tomatoes (cook halved tomatoes on baking paper for two hours at 120o C)

1. Mix pasta with pesto to coat.

2. Add as many tomatoes as is your preference.

SIMPLE FRIED RICE

3 cups cooked jasmine rice 1 small onion finely chopped 20g finely grated ginger (optional) 20g finely grated garlic (optional) 1 tbsp sesame oil 1 egg 1 cup peas (or other vegetables) in small pieces Soy sauce or Tamari

1. Heat a frying pan. Add sesame oil, onions, ginger and garlic and fry until translucent.

2. Add the cold rice and move around the pan until the rice starts separating. You may need more oil - cook until hot.

3. Move the rice to the side of the pan, break the egg into the pan and allow to nearly cook.

4. Break up the egg and mix it into the rice, followed by the peas (or other vegetables).

5. Add soy sauce or Tamari. Optional salt to taste.

For more foodie ideas log onto dipsy-dips.com. Follow Elizabeth @fooshionista @dipsy-dips

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T E C H SP L A I N E D

Taking photos these days is easy, storing them somewhere safe where you can find them is not.

Read on for five common photo management mistakes and how to fix them.

MISTAKE #1

You don’t have a centralised digital photo hub A digital photo hub is where all your images can live safely together - every photo you take goes there, and every photo you share (or use for a project) comes out of there.

Importantly, a centralised hub can be easily backed up to protect your memories.

The solution: A digital photo hub is a computer with a big enough hard drive capacity

to store all of your photos – we recommend at least 1TB of storage for an averagesized photo library. If you don’t have enough space, consider upgrading the hard drive, getting a refurbished computer with a large hard drive, or buying an entirely new and upgraded computer.

MISTAKE #2

Your photos are only in the cloud While the cloud provides protection from theft, loss and damage, unless you have full-sized copies of your photos (that are not synching with the cloud), your pics are at risk as there is only one set.

The solution: Check if the photos on your computer are stored in full size or optimised for storage. If it’s the latter, the photos on the device are only thumbnail images. If all your photos are only on your phone and on the cloud, take action!

MISTAKE #3

You don’t use photo management software There’s nothing more frustrating than scrolling through your phone, trying to find images in a hurry. Any 62 anza

good photo management software provides tools to search photos using metadata (information about where, how and when a photo was taken) as well as an amount of facial and object recognition.

The solution: If you’re a Mac user, you have access to Photos, Apple’s native photo management software (which is very powerful). If you’re a Windows user, try Google Photos which is great.

MISTAKE #4

You photos are not future proof Tech is constantly evolving. If you have photos and videos on CDs, slides, VHS, DV tapes, physical photo albums and so on, and not in your digital photo hub or backed up, they’re at risk of becoming inaccessible and lost forever.

The solution: Don’t ignore this!

It’s still relatively easy to copy photos off external hard drives, DVDs and CDs, and deposit them safely into your digital photo hub. Take older media sources to an IT company.

You can even scan printed photos into your photo library using apps like Photo Scan by Google. If you’re unsure, Tekkie Help can assist.

MISTAKE #5

You don’t have robust backup What if your laptop crashes tomorrow?

What if you lose your phone? Remember that the cloud is not a robust backup solution; it’s a synchronising software. If you delete photos from one device, the delete will happen on all devices if synchronised.

The solution: Implement a 3-21 backup strategy whereby you have three copies of your data, in at least two different formats (for example, on an external hard drive and in the cloud), with one copy in a different “offsite” space (such as in the cloud or in another physical location).

Better still, have your backup configured regularly.

For help implementing a photo management strategy, or if you need guidance, Tekkie Help run specific workshops.

Checkout tekkiehelp.com/ittraining. Tel: 81138682

www.tekkiehelp.com Email: support@ tekkiehelp.com

Shutterstock

S

ince photos have gone digital, chances are you have a huge library on your camera or phone that’s in desperate need of attention.

But if the thought of trying to put hundreds of images into order leaves you cold, we have a solution. Sarah and Bo Pinel from Sort Your Photos (part of Tekkie Help), share five common mistakes people make with their pics, and what you can do to regain order.

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LADIES NIGHT

ANZA organises monthly girls-only get togethers in small groups, on various dates, at different hotspots around Singapore. It’s a fantastic way to widen your social circle, meet newcomers to Singapore and have a laugh. We find buzzy new venues and great deals on drinks and food. It’s always a fun night out!

Registration is essential for these events. For more information and to register visit anza.org.sg/groups/ladies-night

SOMETIMES YOU JUST NEED A STRONG CUPPA AND A FRIENDLY WELCOME. Whether you’re new to Singapore, new to ANZA or have been here a while, Casual Coffee mornings are a fantastic way to meet new people, pick up tips for living in Singapore and discover what ANZA offers its members. ANZA Casual Coffee meets at various locations around the island in group sizes that comply with the current restrictions.

Register at anza. org.sg/groups/ casualcoffee

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ANZ A C LIC K PHOTO G R A PHY

HELLO MY PRETTY!

There’s no better place for flower photography than Singapore’s Botanic Gardens where over 1,000 orchid species are waiting, poised and pouty, for their close up.

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CLICK TIP

Overcast skies are perfect for photographing flowers as the soft light complements the delicate petals, plus, with no shadows or bright spots you can achieve a nice, even exposure

LEFT: “Taking pictures of flowers is generally a relaxing activity. It’s nice to capture the beauty of flowers in full bloom before it fades. It’s a visual reminder to seize every moment in life, and to cherish every memory.”

@YEEHOOTHIM

LOVE TAKING PHOTOS? Join ANZA Click and learn from a community of like-minded photographers. This social and friendly group is great for beginners, amateur enthusiasts, and anyone with an interest in photography. anza.org.sg/groups/click-photography January/February 2022

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MUM’S THE WORD

SOCCER

Being an ANZA Soccer Coach is a role that suits all genders, as CARA MAYEGA and JANELLE MACBAY reveal.

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hildren are great imitators, so it’s crucial that we surround them with great role models to follow in all areas of life - and that includes on the soccer pitch. Cara D’Avanzo certainly sets a great example for her children Declan, 19, Aran, 17, and Chris, 15. An integral member of the ANZA family, Cara serves as Communications Coordinator on the ANZA Soccer committee and is one of a handful of female parent coaches who’ve stepped up to actively coach the kids on the game. We asked Cara how she went from regular Saturdays to spending her weekends striding the sidelines.

When did you begin coaching at ANZA Soccer?

It was back in 2014 when I started coaching my youngest son’s U8 team.

As a child I’d played soccer myself from

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Above: Cara D’Avanzo with oldest son Declan on Awards Day, 2017. Below: With the victorious SEA Cup team, 2015

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Above: Cara with son Aran and the U17 Warriors, 2019 Below: Cara’s youngest son Chris, soon after his mum began teaching

Calling all females!

ANZA is working hard to improve its ratio of female coaches and has been actively recruiting more women. We provide all the support required with training, drills, and session plans. Most find that any initial hesitation quickly dissipates when they see how much the kids love having parents involved.

We also have two female professional coaches to help improve the skill level of our Matilda players – Coach Vaan and Coach Mastura, who both played for the Singapore Women’s National Team. They bring not just expertise and extensive experience, but a passion for seeing more girls and women play soccer.

the age of five through to college, and I also coached while teaching in the US, Taiwan, and Australia. Initially, no other mums were coaching at ANZA Soccer, so I thought they were just not “allowed” to volunteer for this role! After watching my son Chris play, I was itching to become more involved, so asked the Age Group Coordinator (AGC) if I could coach too.

Since then, I’ve trained at least two of my three sons’ teams each season and been involved in coaching competition teams as well.

What have been your favourite ANZA Soccer coaching experiences?

It’s been a total privilege to teach all the wonderful youngsters I’ve had on my various teams - Snipers, Warriors, Gordons, Flyers, and comp teams. I’ve also had some great times coaching with (and against) many fantastic, enthusiastic, and competitive dads! I absolutely love going along to the pitches on Saturdays and seeing how each of the players grows and improves over the season. Perhaps my favourite coaching “success” was at SEA Cup 2015 in Bangkok. Coach Mike and I were lucky enough to proudly lead ANZA Soccer’s U11 team, including my son Aran, to that age group’s inaugural gold medal.

Why should more females volunteer at ANZA Soccer?

At a younger age, soccer knowledge is less important than being able to manage and engage with children - something females can do just as well as males! It’s also really important to provide female role models to kids of all genders. If all the coaches on the pitch are men, this can send the message that only guys can progress to higher levels of sports and coaching, which we all know is untrue. Most of all, coaching at ANZA Soccer is a great way to interact with your own child in a different role and setting, while making new friends in the process.

I really hope to see a lot more mums on the pitch in the coming years.

ROLE MODELS FOR MATILDAS

Launching in 2022 is our “Role Models For Matildas” programme, where we encourage our senior Matilda players (aged 6-16) to take on a leadership role in both coaching and mentoring our younger players. This benefits the teens, who’ll learn about coaching, mentoring, and leadership, and our younger players, who’ll have trainers they can aspire to. The senior girls can also apply this opportunity towards their schools’ required volunteer/ service hours, needed for graduation. To lead our new Matilda recruits on developing these skills over time, our female professional coaches will be on hand to provide assistance and guidance.

If you’d like to get involved in ANZA Soccer or volunteer as a coach, register at anza.org.sg/sports/soccer/ January/February 2022

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C YC L I N G

RIDING INTO 2022!

New cycling rules, a new app for improved communication, and a lovely new Membership Co-ordinator. By MEGAN KINDER.

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ast November’s return to groups of five came as wonderfully refreshing news - at last we were once again able to run some Club Induction Ride groups. A workaround the prior month had seen newcomers interested in finding out more about the club and our activities paired up for a “Buddy Ride” where each prospective member was partnered with one of our Ride Captains.

Whilst this proved a good way to share

the club spirit, it was quite removed from our usual inductions, whereby prospective members are treated to a full run-down on our group ride etiquette, style and rules, and taken out for the full experience of a 40-50km ‘ANZA’ bunch ride. Let’s hope the new year sees more induction rides, which are typically held on the first weekend of each month, and we can get closer to the “new max” of ten in a bunch.

Above: Ewa and Marco Mejia, co-creators (along with Chris Wilmott) of the Bunji App Below: Amanda Lewis with new member Marc Holloway

What are the new rules for cyclists?

As of January 1, 2022 there is likely to be an enhanced enforcement of rules pertaining to cycling in Singapore. Cyclists should be aware of the following points: GENERAL ROAD CYCLING Cyclists ARE ALLOWED to ride on any roads, EXCEPT expressways (PIE, AYE etc) or in tunnels (flyovers and underpasses are okay!)

HELMETS are MANDATORY (on the road), as are LIGHTS (white front, red rear) during hours of darkness Groups should strive to leave a BUS LENGTH DISTANCE between groups Cyclists MUST follow road rules in accordance with the TRAFFIC CODE CYCLING ON MULTI-LANE ROADS (MORE THAN ONE LANE IN A SINGLE DIRECTION) Cyclists ARE ALLOWED to ride TWOABREAST Cyclists ARE ALLOWED to ride in groups of MAX 10 (or MaxN as per Covid restrictions) 68 anza

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CYCLING ON TWO-WAY ROADS (ONLY ONE LANE IN A SINGLE DIRECTION) Cyclists must ride in SINGLE FILE (and split to MAX 5) Following suggestions that a ‘safe passing’ rule be added to the Traffic Code, a requirement has been put in place that motorists leave a minimum 1.5m distance when overtaking. This currently appears as a ‘guideline’, although we hope that it will soon also be enshrined in law, so as to be enforceable.

Kudos to all

Congratulations to all our members who took part in the Metasprint Series 2021 Triathlon, which was held in a modified format, comprising a 15km Wattbike cycle, a 750m open water swim and a 5km run at Palawan Beach, Sentosa in November. Similarly, huge kudos to all members who participated in the final event of the JungleCross offroad series. With road events limited to the OCBC ITT and TTT held several months back, the Singapore Cycling Federation has been exploring options for virtual road racing. They've since established The Cycling Esports Singapore National Championship, a qualifier for the UCI Esports World Champs, which will take place on stationary Wattbikes. Stay tuned for updates!

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Introducing our new Membership Co-ordinator, Ann York

Megan with new member Thierry Bergero

All ANZA rides now on new Bunji app

Over the past 18 months, we’ve witnessed growing diversity in what our members want from their cycling. With that, a proliferation of channels and platforms are now used to coordinate group bike rides. While this has been exciting to see, it has provided a challenge to uphold our core value of inclusion. Recognising this, three of our club members, Marco and Ewa Mejia together with Chris Willmott, co-developed an app specifically to serve the needs of sporting clubs such as Anza Cycling. This app is called Bunji.

Bunji is a word widely used across Australia, derived originally from Warlpiri, an indigenous Australian language from the Northern Territory that means “mate” or “friend”. Meanwhile, the app logo is a symbol for “meeting place”. The ANZA Cycling committee was excited to pilot the beta version of Bunji exclusively and since its launch to club members in late November 2021, we’ve been happy to see how many members are putting it into play. It has made the process of joining rides so much easier.

We ask all ANZA Cycling members to download Bunji, which is freely available on iPhone, iPad and Android phones. Find ANZA in the Clubs section and request to join. Contact Marco Mejia at marco@ bunjiapp.com if you have issues or questions.

Ann and her husband Graeme have been expat-ing for 17 years, with stints in London, Chicago, Bangkok and now Singapore, where they’ve lived since 2019.

“We joined ANZA straight after arriving in Singapore, and it’s been an absolute lifesaver, particularly throughout the pandemic. The social interaction (even when in groups of two) during the past few years has provided a real mental wellness boost.

I used to work in accounting, administration and recruitment, but maintaining a career while on the move was a challenge, so I moved into the fitness industry.

I’ve been lucky to work as a fitness trainer in the UK, USA, Thailand, and now here. The flexibility around where and when I teach is great and it also means I can go home regularly and visit our (now adult) kids in Perth and Melbourne.

Right now I work for Pure Gyms, teaching around 10 classes a week (BodyPump, Spin, Core & HIIT bike).

I took up cycling six years ago, when a friend of mine in Melbourne gathered a small group of friends together for a 200km weekend charity ride. That pretty much kicked off my cycling addiction.

I really got into road cycling while living in Bangkok. There are some fantastic rides through the rural villages. We would drive out of the city most weekends, to ride in beautiful, interesting places, dodging all sorts of obstacles along the way. I’ve also cycled in Vietnam, Myanmar and Laos, as well as central and northern Thailand - it’s a great way to see Asia, away from the usual tourist traps.

I also ride in Melbourne with a big ladies cycling group where there are around 200 of us cycling at all levels. Pre-Covid we cycled from Porto in Portugal to San Sebastian in Spain, and in 2019 Denmark and Poland.

ANZA Cycling is a huge part of my life, and I was excited to take on the membership role. I love being part of a committee that is so passionate. I’m really looking forward to meeting more members in person and seeing the plans for the future as we open up more fully.”

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N E T BA L L

GIVING BACK WITH BILLIE!

Meet Billie, ANZA Netball committee member and all-round top scorer when it comes to dedicating her time, effort and skills as a group volunteer.

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ne of ANZA Netball’s greatest strengths is the supportive community and large volunteer group that enables us to thrive. Billie Haywood is one of the many enthusiastic and dedicated volunteers at ANZA Netball. She started off as a volunteer coach, then joined the ANZA Netball Committee as a coach liaison to support all the volunteer coaches in the programme. Here she explains why she signed up.

1

Why ANZA Netball?

I heard about ANZA Netball when we first arrived in Singapore seven years ago. By the time we settled in and my daughter was old enough to participate, it was time to join up. The programme was attractive to me to maintain a

Billie’s s d a u g h teur t ! speako

connection with other like-minded Australians who wanted to keep their children in team sports. My girls have made lovely friendships that they wouldn’t have made otherwise, especially with kids from other schools.

2

Did you play netball or other sports growing up?

Growing up in county Victoria, my sports were limited to netball, AFL, swimming and karate. The best times I had were through netball as it allowed me to play and grow to love the game, as well as be with my friends. I wanted some of this comradeship for my daughters. At ANZA Netball, whilst the professional coaches have developed a strong programme, it’s delivered in such a fun way it reminded me of my time playing as a teen.

3

How is ANZA Netball coping with the changing restrictions?

Like everyone in Singapore, I’ve found that Covid has played such a big role in limiting the activities and social

W il lo w ,

“ I li k e t at ANZ he funny co aches A Netba taught th m e , a n ll , t h e n e w a t I’ v e h a d d m y f r i e a ls o s p e n s k i ll s t h e y ’v e di n d s . It ’s v e r y n g t i m e w i t h g o o d !”

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r b f u n !” most a ke the g I e n jo y d s . I r e a ll y li a v e s o m u c h t a h W “ h n I ie . r f s r rtne h my f u n w it n d p ic k in g p a had a

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interactions of my three children over the last two years. They’ve craved returning to sports, so it's great that ANZA Netball has continued to operate wherever possible to give children a chance to remain active.

Having such a dedicated team in the committee helps. Ultimately, we all want the best programme for our players to get out on the court and have fun.

4

How did you get to be part of the ANZA Netball Committee?

When my family initially joined ANZA Netball, I volunteered to help coach my eldest daughter. As I hadn’t coached before, ANZA assisted me by offering an external coaching course to brush up on my skills. Once I began, my daughter was so proud I was involved. After a while, I was approached by one of the committee members to see if I’d be interested in joining. As I couldn’t coach both of my daughters at the same time, joining the committee seemed like a good way to be involved and present for both my girls.

5

What’s your favourite part of being a netball coach with ANZA? I love being a part of this hardworking team. The group of dedicated volunteers is lovely, and it’s been a pleasure getting to know them. Becoming a committee member is an ideal way to remain connected to your children’s activities, and to meet new people. We’re always looking for new members, so I urge all readers to please shout if you're interested in joining!

January/February 2022

13/12/21 5:32 PM

Join ANZA Tennis

The ANZA Casual Tennis group get together each Friday from 9am to 11am to have a fun hit. Complete beginners and players of all abilities are welcome.

Join us for a coffee and chat afterwards.

ANZA Tennis 11am s ay d s e Clinics with n d We ar at Savit Savitar Tennis Keen to learn the basics e Centr of tennis? Need to refresh your skills? This four-week programme is designed for newcomers interested in learning the fundamentals of tennis, or for players looking to refresh their technique. Learn while you play; the goal is for you to feel comfortable playing a casual game of tennis with friends.

For more information and to register visit anza.org.sg/sports/tennis

ANZA Kill-O-Metres

walk

Discover Singapore on foot with ANZA Kill-o-Metres.

Walking groups depart from all over Singapore for both day and evening walks.

anza.org.sg/sports/walking

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Join this group and learn new Training is on Thursday evenings craft skills, such as silk painting, KNIT FOR LOVE and Saturdays, with regular social bookbinding, candle making, sewing Join us in knitting beanies catch-ups. a bag, card creation, beading, batik, for Singapore Cancer Society ANZA ATHLETICS and more. Activities are designed chemotherapy patients. New knitters NIPPERS ANZA’s track-and-field programme with beginners in mind, and each are most welcome. The group meets Children aged 5-14 learn ocean is for kids and teens aged 5-16. month a new craft activity is on the third Friday of the month in awareness through fun surf lifesaving Organised and run by parents, the introduced. the ANZA office on Beach Road. activities, including paddling, programme teaches children track running and swimming. Sunday and field skills, with a focus on fun, ANZA ACTION TRAILING TALENT mornings at Palawan Beach, Sentosa. fitness and skills.

The community affairs arm The ANZA Trailing Talent Facebook Meet a community of beach lovers! *Note: this programme is currently on hold for ANZA supports charities in group is for trailing spouses due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Singapore through fundraising and looking for social and networking RUNNING volunteering activities. For info on opportunities. Find support from Looking for some running ANZA CRICKET the charities we support visit the like-minded people looking for work buddies in Singapore for regular Three ANZA Cricket teams play in ANZA website. in a challenging environment. casual runs? The ANZA Running the Singapore Cricket Association.

Group meets Monday evenings in Training usually takes place at BOOK CLUBS CLICK PHOTOGRAPHY the Botanic Gardens.

Singapore Cricket Club nets from We have a number of social book The group meets regularly to share 7pm on Monday evenings and the clubs that meet monthly in the knowledge and advice in a friendly SOCCER indoor nets at The Cage, Turf City. morning or evening. Contact us to be environment as well as going on Get your kids kicking with ANZA connected with a group that meets photowalks across Singapore.

Soccer! Our well-known programme ANZA CYCLING at a time that suits you.

Everyone is welcome with camera is open to children aged 2-18, ANZA Cycling just turned 20 yearsin hand! focusing on fair play and community. old! Join our keen cycling group and INVESTORS INTEREST GROUP Saturday games and mid-week you can get out on two wheels every This money-minded group meets KILL-O-METRES training at The Cage Sports Park, morning of the week to explore all monthly to connect and discuss Join ANZA’s walking group to get Turf City. parts of Singapore. Suits most skill investments and important financial moving around some of Singapore’s levels and includes road, racing, MTB matters for expats. great nature reserves and interesting CASUAL TENNIS and also triathlon disciplines. neighbourhoods. Check ANZA’s Join our social tennis group CASUAL COFFEE website for times and locations. at the Fairmont Hotel, Fridays, ANZA GOLF / 9 HOLE Sometimes you just need a good 9-11am. Clinics that focus on the ANZA Golf is a great way to get cuppa and a friendly welcome. Mini EASY RIDERS fundamentals of tennis meet on outdoors, meet new people and Casual Coffee Catch Ups are being Join ANZA’s relaxed cycling group to Wednesdays, 11am. Afterwards, take learn how to play the game. The held on various days and locations explore Singapore’s Park Connector time out for coffee and a chat.

9-hole golf group is aimed at around the island.

Network (PCNs) and other off road beginners and is very friendly and ** Please check current Covid restrictions, bike paths. Participants will need relaxed. which can change group sizes and scheduled SECRET MEN’S BUSINESS their own bike and a helmet, but meet-ups. For more information and to join Lunch and lager every third ANZA Interest Groups visit anza.org.sg. don’t need to be an experienced Wednesday of the month. The lads Drop-ins to ANZA groups are not possible. cyclist.

Join the Community!

INTEREST GROUPS

SPORTS GROUPS

disclaimer ANZA offers many and varied activities and events to benefit its members. Occasionally, and due to circumstances outside of ANZA’s control, activities or events (including sporting competitions and seasons) may be cancelled or subject to date, venue or content changes. Every effort is made to avoid this, but where it does happen, neither membership or ticket fees are refundable. Current and prospective members and guests are encouraged to reference both the constitution and terms and conditions of ticketed events.

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January/February 2022

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JOIN

THE ANZA SPORTS

COMMUNITY!

Build skills and fitness, have fun and make lots of new mates.

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N EW M E M B E R S

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NEW MEMBERS GOLD PARTNER Congratulations to Bronwyn Webb Winner of this month’s $50 voucher from The Fishwives.

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16/12/2021 11:30:00 AM

10 MINUTES WITH...

MS M S SHANTI

MS M S SHANTI is Director for Admissions, Academic Services and Progression at James Cook University Singapore (JCU). She moved from India to Singapore over two decades ago and has been working for the university for the past sixteen years.

Tell us about your role at JCU ...

I ensure that students receive excellent academic administrative service. This is done by leading the teams which deliver the processes and services from admission, enrolment, examination, graduation, counselling, progression, and student administration.

What’s your favourite part of your job?

Working with colleagues from around the world like Australia, New Zealand, Germany, UK, China, and the Philippines.

It’s great to work with such a diverse community. In terms of challenges, constantly innovating and meeting the evolving nature of learning and student experience can be demanding.

After 16 years at JCU, what major changes have you noticed within the curriculum?

Nowadays it’s no longer necessary for

traditional classroom-based teaching.

The tremendous advancement in technology has enabled the development of the media and learning tools - it’s much more dynamic. For example, with the on-going pandemic, a digital learning environment and hybrid teaching and learning has become the norm. The curriculum and the outcomes of the courses must be curated to meet the dynamic nature of education today.

You obtained a Master of IT Management from University of Wollongong. How tricky were tech courses then?

During my days, there were very few female students in my class. There were limited networking and mentoring opportunities, and no social media.

As women we had to work hard, but because we were interested in computer

Shanti’s advice for parents with uni students “It’s hard when a student starts university, but parents must remember that their child is getting ready to be an independent, resilient and strong individual. As parents we need to give our full support and guidance on this journey, so the child can rise to success.”

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engineering and had confidence in our abilities, we were able to get through.

What advice would you give to students wanting to pursue IT today?

You must have passion and an interest in IT to study it. You also need to be open to learning new things, prepared to take on challenges, and keep up with technological changes.

What would have been your ‘alternative’ career?

Maybe something in the IT industry, doing app development or working within artificial intelligence or cybersecurity space. These topics interest me a lot.

How can students best prepare for university life?

Be independent, responsible, set goals, and learn how to work hard but also have fun. Learning inside and outside of the classroom through extra-curricular activities such as clubs and networking can set you up for life.

What would you change about your own school days?

I should have had more fun. Haha!

How do you relax out of work?

By reading books, rock painting, and playing with my pet toy poodle!

James Cook University (JCU) is at 149 Sims Drive, 387380. T: +65 6709 3888. jcu.edu.sg

January/February 2022

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G N I R E K N TI

ion t a v o n n i r creative of t r a minds! Ou e s u h o ri u e c It’s at th tinkering ignites passions anncdocureraagteeschildren to take risks, make

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STEP INSIDE OUR NEW CAMPUS TO SEE HOW WE DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY

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A U S T R A L I A N A N D N E W Z E A L A N D A S S O C I AT I O N

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022

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