ANZA Magazine April 2020

WHAT’S ON

TRAVEL

TOURS

SPORTS

OUT & ABOUT

CHECK OUT

YOUR STORIES

THE AUSTR ALI AN & NEW Z EALAND ASSOCIATION April 2020

Singapore

GREEN ISSUE PLANET FRIENDLY FURNITURE PLANT-BASED BURGERS GREEN LIVING IDEAS SUSTAINABLE SHOPPING ZERO CARBON EATERIES ECO ACTIVITIES

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E DI TOR’S NOTE

WELCOME “There is so much we can all do to reclaim our beautiful planet.”

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pril is our Green Issue, where we celebrate Singapore’s eco warriors, sustainability stars, and environmental activists. Never has there been a time to be more proactive about the environment and take a stand against climate change. It’s been a joy to connect with so many eco-minded people in this part of the world, doing their bit to save the planet. From small changes, like taking reusable plasticware to the hawkers, to bold statements; like those from our partner Accor, who have pledged a war on plastic – there is so much we can all do to reclaim our beautiful planet and ensure its future for generations to come. I hope some of these stories inspire you to make a green change in your own life.

This issue we farewell our President of the past 12 years – PJ Roberts. As we prepared his final column, we came across PJ’s first missive for the ANZA Magazine, penned in May 2008.

He looked a little younger in those days, but his drive, passion and commitment to ANZA was clear from the start. Thank you, PJ, for 12 years of speeches, executive meetings, decision making and leadership for our organisation. You are one of the volunteers that have made ANZA what it is today.

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 facebook.com/anzasingapore

We hope all of you are coping with the changing face of the COVID-19 virus, which has wreaked havoc across the world.

Stay safe, wash your hands, and reach out to us if you feel isolated. ANZA’s sports and interest groups continue to meet up regularly for anyone wanting a chat with friends.

Happy Easter, I hope the bunny delivers lots of delicious chocolate eggs and you find time to spend with loved ones.

Pip Harry, Editor editor@anza.org.sg

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

ADVERTISING Deborah Gillies marketing@anza.org.sg

EVENTS Helena Biggin events@anza.org.sg

ACCOUNTS Ellie Mills accounts@anza.org.sg

WEBSITE Geoff King web@anza.org.sg

ADMINISTRATION Kerry Abdallah admin@anza.org.sg

ADMINISTRATION Mandy Reinders-Hall info@anza.org.sg

COMMUNICATIONS & MEMBERSHIP Trudy Nearhos membership@anza.org.sg

DESIGN Christina Lim design@anza.org.sg

ADMINISTRATION Janice Burns info@anza.org.sg

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

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GREEN ISSUE APRIL 2020

FEATURES

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26 SUSTAINABLE VANILLA

Find out more about Heilala Vanilla and their social enterprise with a farming community in Tonga.

28 PLANET FRIENDLY FURNITURE

Want to adopt, not shop? Jonathan Roelandts, MD of Soul & Tables and Flexisnug, offers affordable, sustainable furniture rentals.

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32 PLASTIC PROMISE

Michael Issenberg, Accor’s CEO Asia-Pacific, talks to ANZA about the company’s commitment to eliminate single use plastic.

34 HEART & SOLE

ANZA member Jennifer Gregory is the GM of Indosole, a footwear company that re-purposes tyres into eco-friendly footwear.

36 LOCO FOR SUSTAINABILITY

Hailing from Brisbane, William Leonard brings a sustainable focus to his latest role in Singapore as Group General Manager, The Loco Group.

40 GREEN IS GOOD

Bestselling author Neil Humphreys talks to ANZA about his environmental passions and how he makes green choices in Singapore.

44 RAFFLES STAYCATION

Pip Harry ticks Raffles Singapore off her bucket list with a luxurious stay in the world famous heritage hotel.

50 IMPOSSIBLY GOOD BURGERS

Burger lovers Jo McKenna and her son Julian tried and tested Singapore’s plant-based meat alternatives.

REGULARS 01 Editor’s Note 04 President’s Message 06 Post It 08 Partner’s Page 10 What’s On 12 Australian High Commission 14 New Zealand High Commission 16 ANZA Action 18 Check Out – Green Singapore 20 ANZA Tours 28 Out & About: New Members,

Ladies Night, Thriving in Singapore

48 Ask the Expert 50 ANZA Click! Photography 52 Hotspots EAT 53 Hotspots DRINK 54 Tastebuds 55 Tuckerbox 56 Wandering Yogi 57 Soul Fuel 58 ANZA Groups, Casual Coffee 60 ANZA Sports 68 Membership Benefits 70 New Members 72 10 Minutes With…

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) 062/08/2019

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PRESI DENT ’S MES S AG E

FAREWELL PJ!

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elcome to the April issue of our magazine and my final President’s Message. I’m very excited about the future of ANZA with the new Executive Committee and Adam Martin as President. I look forward to remaining involved as a passionate member and supporter of all things ANZA. When I started my personal journey with ANZA I could never have envisaged the joy and satisfaction I would obtain from being involved. I’m very proud of the growth of ANZA under my 12 years of leadership and the success we have achieved during this time, including a diverse and vibrant membership base, the plethora and quality of activities, and overall ongoing financial viability of our association.

We have continued to be very focused in providing a structure and process that ensures ANZA remains relevant and sustainable in a world where change is constant and dynamic. Succession planning has been integral to our strategic framework and how we operate to allow for the legacy of our volunteers to continue well into the future.

I’ve experienced so many wonderful occasions in my time as President and feel blessed to have shared these with so many selfless people. ANZA is a brilliant association that flourishes because of the unrelenting passion and drive of our many volunteers, providing outstanding opportunities for our families, day after day, year after year. It fills me with such pride to look at our magazine and see the many smiling faces, people of all ages, engaging in and enjoying the vast array of activities on offer.

My most heartfelt thanks to our passionate army of volunteers who consistently dedicate their time and effort to provide us all with awesome opportunities to enhance our sense of belonging and add enormous value to our overall time in Singapore.

Every club, every sub-group, every event, every game, every little thing that we do can be traced back to the heroic efforts of our current volunteers and the innumerable volunteers who came in the decades before us. I get quite emotional when I think of the countless hours spent by thousands of volunteers over seven decades. Their efforts make us what we are now.

I’ve spent over a quarter of my life as ANZA President. I’m incredibly thankful for how much I have grown and how much my life has evolved for the better. From landing in Singapore 18 years ago as professional footballer, and now being married to my gorgeous wife Jo with our adorable baby boy Ashleigh. My ANZA

PJ meets ANZA Action sponsored therapy horse, Kodie

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ANZA SuperBall 2019 Melbourne Cup 2011

Bledisloe Cup 2009

At the Great Australia Day BBQ in 2019

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2008 Executive Committee members

With Ashleigh and Jo at AFL Finals last year

With his mother, Pat, at the ANZA Ball in 2013

AFL Finals 2012 with Kerry and Anna

With Malakai at the AGM in 2019

PJ giving a speech at Voya 2011

journey will continue to evolve as Jo and I look forward to Ashleigh growing up and being a part of our kids activities and experiencing ANZA as a family.

I’m also very thankful to Singapore as a country, both personally and for ANZA as an association. I love this country. Singapore has a remarkable vision and embraces us and our association to be a part of this journey and vision. We are all provided with rewarding opportunities for our careers and families here in Singapore and for that I am eternally grateful.

A special thank you to everyone in our ANZA family for the love, support and care you have personally demonstrated to me during my time as President. Our sub-groups, Executive Committee, and office staff – you have been a tower of strength. A very special thanks to Kerry Low and Adam Martin for their friendship and support during my time as President. Also, to our Life Member’s, Annette and Clive Tilbrook, for showing me the way in the early days.

We are all part of something very special with ANZA and I look forward to continuing to contribute and celebrate how special we are.

Best wishes,

PJ Roberts Celebrating ANZA’s 70th Anniversary

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P OST 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

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T OS

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E ON

SPARKLE AND SHINE AT ANZA’S GLITTERBALL!

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#anzaglitterball2020

We are monitoring the unfolding Covid-19 situation.

If the event is cancelled, tickets will be fully refundable.

MEET A FEATURED PARTNER

CHARLIE O’FLAHERTY Partner Crossbridge Capital

What makes Crossbridge a great fit for ANZA? Crossbridge Capital has always taken pride in supporting the expat communities in the countries that we operate in, in the field of wealth management.

What does Crossbridge offer expats in Singapore?

Access to a fully integrated services platform of wealth management, family office and digital investment solutions to expats and their families.

What’s your favourite ANZA event?

ANZA’s Melbourne Cup Race Day. We were the platinum and presenting sponsor of the event in 2019. It strengthened our relations with the ANZA community and raised money for an important cause.

What’s your one tip for newcomers to Singapore?

Take random bus rides and get off at a place you find interesting that’s off the beaten track. Don’t worry, you can always hail a cab back.

Where’s a special place you like to take visitors?

Atlas Bar at Parkview Hotel, it features more than 1,000 varieties of spirits. It’s also housed in an art deco building a la Great Gatsby, a far cry from the average neighbourhood pub.

This year’s glittering ANZA Ball will be held on Saturday 16 May 2020 at the Shangri-La Hotel. As well as loads of dancing, eating, drinks and fun, there’s a chance to win $135,000 worth of amazing travel prizes, including some of Asia’s most luxurious and exclusive resorts. The ball is our biggest fundraising event of the year – with proceeds from the Charity Prize Draw supporting ANZA Action charities, Melrose Children’s Home and Babes Pregnancy Crisis Support.

Guests will be treated to free flow bubbles, beer and wines, a selection of tasty canapes on arrival, followed by a sumptuous three-course dinner specially curated by the Shangri La’s award-winning culinary team. Dance the night away to the iconic Singapore band, Jive Talking and refuel at midnight with tasty meat pies! To book your ticket or table go to anza.org.sg/events

DID YOU KNOW? The month long Islamic fast of Ramadan begins on Friday, 24 April this year, prior to celebrating the festival of Hari Raya Puasa on 24 May. – Raelene Tan

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

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

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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

SILVER PARTNERS

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WHAT’S ON

NO STRINGS ATTACHED Puppetry Director GARETH ALED brings breathing, galloping, charging horses to life on stage in the thrilling theatre event, War Horse, based on the beloved novel by Michael Morpurgo. The moving, powerful and imaginative drama features life-sized equine puppets, created by South Africa’s Handspring Puppet Company.

As a young drama school graduate in 2010. That evening at the theatre had a huge impact. The effort, generosity and heart I felt from the company telling the story was moving and inspiring. At the centre of War Horse is a puppet horse that the audience is strongly

convinced is living, breathing, thinking and feeling.

This task requires the puppeteer to work really hard technically and physically.

If they do their job correctly you the audience will forget that they exist. A large amount of generosity and a distinct lack of ego is required. It’s only now as Puppetry Director do I fully understand the magic and impact of this endeavour.

24 APR – 10 MAY WAR HORSE Esplanade Theatre

Seen by over eight million people worldwide, War Horse has picked up 25 awards. At the outbreak of World War One, Joey, young Albert’s beloved horse, is sold to the cavalry and shipped from England to France. He’s soon caught up in enemy fire, and taken on an extraordinary journey. esplanade.com

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What’s your role?

I work closely with the company through rehearsals, opening and moving from one venue to the next. My considerations are to do with the quality of the storytelling, safety and the development of the puppetry. Adrian Kohler and Basil Jones of the Handspring puppet company are responsible for these incredible puppets.

The company name comes from their belief that the life of the puppet springs directly from the hand of the puppeteer.

How does the puppeteering work?

It takes three puppeteers to operate Joey: a Head, Heart and Hind. They each have a technical task and an emotional indicator.

Technically the Head puppeteer maintains the head height and eye-line of the horse, emotionally they operate the ears via bicycle break leavers. If the ears pin back it suggests fear, discomfort, and agitation. If they soften forward and the head lowers it could convey curiosity, passiveness or relaxation.

© Brinkhoff & Mogenburg

When did you first see War Horse?

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FROM 2 APR

Each time the Heart puppeteer moves they engage a trigger which articulates the knee joint and curls the hoof. Emotionally when the puppeteer bends his/her knees the horse breathes – our most important emotional indicator.

Finally, the Hind puppeteer maintains the gait of the horse. Our horses participate in cavalry charges and therefore are required to walk, trot and gallop. All three have a specific rhythmic pattern. Emotionally they use bicycle break leavers to operate the tail.

These three puppeteers coordinate and communicate through a shared breath. An incredible act of trust and teamwork.

GRANDMOTHER TONGUE Wild Rice @ Funan Back by popular demand, Thomas Lim’s funny, insightful play examines Singapore’s mother-tongue language policy and the erasure of dialects.The play centres around a young man’s struggle to connect with his 84-year-old Teochewspeaking grandmother. wildrice.com.sg

OPEN NOW

LEE KONG CHIAN NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM National University of Singapore With over 2,000 natural history specimens on display, this small but comprehensive museum is well worth a visit, particularly if your child is interested in dinosaurs and other animals. Exhibits are set out across 15 different thematic zones, from plants and amphibians to mammals and dinosaurs. Adults $21, kids $13. lkcnhm.nus.edu.sg

How many people does it take to bring the War Horse show to life?

We are a touring company of 60 people. It is a wholehearted, full company endeavour to bring this story to life each day.

What’s your favourite on stage moment?

In the play Joey grows up from a foal to an adult horse. It’s an incredibly dynamic moment.

How physically fit do you have to be for this role?

Puppeteering is a physical form of storytelling and our horse puppeteers prepare and deliver like athletes at a professional level.

How have you studied the movement of real horses?

It’s a huge part of our process. Visiting stables, working with horses, watching videos, reading books. We continue this work and curiosity across the whole tour.

What’s the horse made of?

Joey is made from cane, mesh, leather, aluminium, and steel - all of which have a very different relationship to gravity compared to the weight of a real “half thoroughbred, half draft” adult horse.

Convincing the audience of muscle, weight and power is a constant challenge.

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EASTER SUNDAY CHAMPAGNE BRUNCH Hilton Singapore Celebrate Easter with an indulgent feast, featuring ten gourmet live stations. Kids can create their own pizzas and hatch their own golden eggs. $118 per adult, $59 for kids aged 5-12 years old. hiltonsingaporerestaurants.com

29 APR – 10 MAY

PERONI SUNSET CINEMA Tanjong Beach, Sentosa Catch a movie as the sun sets on the golden sands of Tanjong Beach. Enjoy award winning films like Parasite, Ford Vs Ferrarri, Little Women, Bombshell and 1917. Gates open from 5pm, so there’s plenty of time to grab a drink and a bite and soak up the ambience until the film begins around 7:45pm. Tickets from $36. sunsetcinema.com.sg

LADIES NIGHT

This story was written in 1982, what makes it so enduring?

The universality of suffering and the futility of war, themes of community, love, loss, loyalty. These ideas translate to all people, all over the world. I think this is partly why the play is so impactful, and it never ceases to move, surprise and inspire me.

What will you do in Singapore?

Explore and eat amazing food!

14 APR 20 APR PETERSONS WINE TASTING

LADIES NIGHT

16 MAY ANZA GLITTERBALL

ANZA.ORG.SG/EVENTS *Due to COVID-19 some events may be cancelled or postponed. Please check ahead.

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AUSTR ALIAN HIG H C OM M IS SION

SUSTAINABILITY: WE MEAN BUSINESS The Australian High Commission is showcasing sustainability in 2020 with a series of dynamic, eco-focused events.

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

he first quarter of 2020 has seen the region and the world face the growing threat from the COVID-19 virus. International supply chains are being disrupted, tourists are staying home, and the business world is facing an economic slowdown.

In Australia, the terrible loss of life and property, and devastation of wildlife resulting from bushfires, have shown starkly how Australia will be tested in the years ahead as we confront the reality of climate change. These events have underlined the need for sustainable solutions for us to continue to survive and thrive. Here in Singapore, the Australian High Commission is showcasing our sustainability expertise to contribute to global shifts and help meet Singapore’s green goals.

On the agenda in 2020 are six sustainability-focused events. These events will be focused on food and agriculture,

corporate governance, commodities, energy, infrastructure and biodiversity conservation. Some of our events for this year will illustrate how we’re ‘building-back-better’ after the fires, in terms of climate adaption, sustainable technology and design and re-greening of the land. As well as how Australia continues to be a safe travel destination and reliable food partner for Singapore. We plan on launching the Australian National University Zero Carbon Energy Program in May to showcase Australia’s National Hydrogen Strategy and highlight how we can assist Singapore transition to a low-emissions economy through Australian expertise in hydrogen. The Australian High Commission will take part in sustainabilityfocused conferences in early July - including the Ecosperity Conference (6 – 8 July), the World Cities Summit (5 – 9 July), Singapore International Water Week (5 – 9 July) and Clean Environ Summit Singapore 2020 (5 – 9 July). Contact publicaffairs-SING@dfat.gov.au if you’re a company involved in sustainability and would like to be involved in our events.

GETTING THERE

ANZAC DAY DAWN SERVICE STAY CONNECTED Follow us on Facebook: facebook.com/ AustraliaInSingapore LinkedIn: linkedin.com/ company/ahc-sg Twitter: @AusHCSG

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The ANZAC Day Dawn Service, commemorating the 105th Anniversary of the landing at Gallipoli, will be held at Kranji War Cemetery and Memorial on Saturday 25 April 2020.

The service will commence at 6:25am, and guests are encouraged to be in place by 6:15am. The service is expected to conclude at around 7:20am. Rosemary, poppies and programs will be available at the entrance to the cemetery. Light refreshments will also be provided in the cemetery car park on completion of the service and all are welcome. There will be no change to the programme in the event of wet weather.

TAXI: Drop off is on Woodlands Road at the entrance to Kranji War Cemetery (Postcode: 738656). Taxis will not be permitted entry into the cemetery car park.

BUS: Kranji War Cemetery is serviced by an SMRT bus stop on Woodlands Road, 100 metres from the entrance road to Kranji War Cemetery (Bus Stop number 45119).

MRT: The nearest MRT stop is ‘Kranji Station’, approximately 20 minutes’ walk.

DRIVING: The only car parking available is at Singapore Turf Club. Allow 20 minutes to walk from the car park to the Cemetery.

There is no on-site parking at Kranji War Cemetery. If you require disabled parking, please contact us at Defence.Singapore@ dfat.gov.au

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

CELEBRATING ANZAC DAY

This month HE Jo Tyndall reflects on a year in office, and we celebrate the ANZAC spirit with a special recipe.

A YEAR IN SINGAPORE New Zealand High Commission Singapore One George Street, Level 21-04 Singapore 049145 Tel 6235 9966 Fax 6536 8180 nzhc.sin@mfat.govt.nz

Earlier this year we celebrated the completion of HE Jo Tyndall’s very first year in the role of High Commissioner. Now that she’s had some time to explore Singapore and revel in its food, culture and history, we thought we’d get her thoughts on the best kept secrets in Singapore.

What are your favourite local resturants?

Violet Oon at the National Gallery for traditional Nyonya and Peranakan cuisine amidst a truly elegant atmosphere. Morsels at Dempsey Hill tiny but doing their own pickling and preserving.

Singapore is defined by its hawker centres and Lau Pa Sat is top of my list: not only can you try some magnificent dishes, you can also soak up a little history, given it’s been around since the 1800s!

What are the best spots for fresh air?

Above: HE

Tyndall with Minister for Pacific Peoples, Hon Aupito William Sio, at the National Gallery.

HE Tyndall with Mr Felix Loh, CEO of Gardens by the Bay

ANZAC BIKKIES RECIPE!

Alongside the ANZAC Day Dawn Service at Kranji, ANZAC Day isn’t complete without some ANZAC biscuits. Here’s a simple but yummy receipe from Edmond’s cook book – an iconic fixture of Kiwi homes around the world.

MacRitchie Reservoir, to get up close and personal with the macaques, monitors, turtles and butterflies, and Botanic Gardens are favourites.

Heading out from my gate I’ve discovered routes that take me through quiet back streets, walkways and parks, where the leafy green and birdsong make for peaceful surroundings.

Top shopping destinations?

STAY CONNECTED Follow us on Facebook: facebook.com/ NewZealandinSingapore Register when travelling: safetravel.govt.nz Find out more: mfat.govt.nz/singapore

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Haji Lane is a favourite because of its colourful little boutiques and cafes. I’ve picked up design-your-own jandals and cool casual clothing. I also suffer from a shoe addiction, and have been spoilt for Love for shoes choice here!

Top 3 places for visitors?

Gardens by the Bay for a true “city in a garden” experience; National Museum of Singapore, to get a handle on Singapore and its history; Kinokunya, because great bookstores are an endangered species, and this is truly one of the greats.

Favourite Singlish term/phrases?

My favourite phrase is “can lah” – it’s pithy and efficient. Plus, it can be used to express anything from enthusiasm and confidence to friendly banter.

INGREDIENTS:

soda in the boiling water and add to butter and golden syrup. Stir butter mixture into the dry ingredients.

4. Place level tablespoons of mixture onto cold greased trays and flatten with a fork.

These don’t spread METHOD: as they bake so you 1. Preheat the oven can place them to 180˚C. Line a close together. baking tray with 5. Bake for about 15 baking paper. minutes or until 2. Mix together flour, golden. Leave sugar, coconut and on the tray for 5 rolled oats. minutes then place 3. Melt butter and on a wire rack to golden syrup. cool.

Dissolve baking ½ cup standard flour ¹⁄3 cup sugar ²⁄₃ cup finely chopped coconut ¾ cup rolled oats 50g butter 1 tbsp golden syrup ½ tsp baking soda 2 tbsp boiling water

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A N Z A AC T IO N

SECRET MEN’S BUSINESS The SECRET MEN’S BUSINESS group have been hard at work raising funds for their chosen charity – Melrose Home.

Raising funds at ANZA’s Melbourne Cup Race Day event

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ecret Men’s Business (SMB) are a group of big-hearted blokes who meet up each week to play golf, have a couple of beers, and give back to the Singapore community. “SMB remains a great haven for men to get together and enjoy a couple of beers whilst solving world problems,” says Pat Taylor. “We play golf and tennis, have a walking group, and we like to travel.”

The group provides essential camaraderie, support and friendship to men in Singapore, especially male trailing spouses, and those new to the city. “Studies have highlighted the benefits of male socialising, including the reduction of stress levels,” says Pat. “We have 163 members who are now spread all around the globe. Many have moved on from Singapore, but still like to stay in the loop, such is the bond with the group.”

SMB also has a charitable side – raising much needed funds for their chosen charity – Melrose Children’s Home, through working bees and other fundraising efforts. “We like to help our designated charity, Melrose Home when we can,” says Pat. “One of the highlights from last year was that SMB presented just over S$13,000 to Melrose Home, along with a working bee effort to fix some of their damaged fencing.”

The group has big plans for 2020, with more fundraising ahead, especially at the ANZA Melbourne Cup Race Day event towards the end of the year. “Our 2020 goals are to be bigger and better on all fronts,” says Pat. SMB welcomes men of all ages and backgrounds. To join you need to be a current, registered ANZA member. anza.org.sg/groups/ secret-mens-business.

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Pat Taylor presents a donation to Melrose Home

Celebrating Christmas with loud shirts!

JOIN ANZA ACTION!

We are looking for a wordsmith to write up the ANZA Action magazine page each month. Get in touch if you’re interested in helping our charity arm tell their stories. editor@anza.org.sg

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It’s the little achievements you notice - like big smiles, laughing, strength in their core muscles, balance, communication, self-control, alertness and enjoyment - that makes it all worthwhile.

- KERRIE DAVIS, RDA VOLUNTEER

We often pitch in with working bees at Melrose Home and organise fundraising activities.

- ANZA SECRET MEN’S BUSINESS GROUP

anzaaction in the community

Want to give back to the local community in Singapore? Get involved with our charity arm, ANZA Action. It’s a great way to way to give back to our adopted communities and experience a different side of life in Singapore.

It’s always wonderful to be able to share our love of sewing with others and to see the sense of accomplishment that comes with creating a unique handmade piece.

- ELIZABETH MANN, STITCHES GROUP

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CHECK OUT

Singapore might be a bustling, high density city, but there are many pockets of green space and businesses that celebrate sustainability. Treat yourself and the planet this month and visit some of these eco spots around the island.

GREEN SINGAPORE 7

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SINGAPORE BOTANIC GARDENS

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CHE CK OUT

1 THE SOCIAL SPACE 333 KRETA AYER ROAD, #01-14 080333

thesocialspace.co This socially conscious, multi-concept store focuses on sustainability and conscious living. Drop by and have a cuppa at their Tea Bar & Café, which serves wholesome food and drinks sourced from fair-trade and eco-friendly producers. Pick up some eco goodies in their retail area, or be pampered at the nail salon, which offers a vocational training programme for underprivileged women and uses only non-toxic and cruelty-free products. They also host a refill station for reusable bottles, a florist, and regular sustainable lifestyle workshops.

2 SCOOP WHOLEFOODS GREAT WORLD CITY 1 KIM SENG PROMENADE, GREAT WORLD, #01-148, 237994 TANGLIN MALL #02-17/18, 163 TANGLIN RD, 247933

sg.scoopwholefoods.com Australian brand Scoop Wholefoods specialises in plastic free shopping, retailing organic and natural products in bulk. Customers buy only as much as they need, minimising food waste. The stores stock a range of Aussie produce and wholefoods from around the globe.

Try organic cold-pressed oils and vinegars, roasted nuts and organic chocolates, and a fermenter section with kimchi, kefir, and sauerkraut. Like to DIY? You can churn your own nut butters, mix the perfect tea blend, and make your own floor cleaners, soap bars and lip balms. Scoop also sell stainless steel tiffin tins, reusable bags and bamboo drinking straws.

3 EDIBLE GARDEN CITY​ 60 JALAN PENJARA,149375

ediblegardencity.com Edible Garden City offers a range of weekend workshops encouraging Singaporeans to grow their own. Test your green thumb at sessions like the basics of organic farming, how to grow microgreens, kombucha making, customise your own hand sanitiser, and more. They also run Junior Urban Farmer camps for kids on school holidays. Volunteer at the gardens

and experience growing your own food.

Want to take it even further? Consider joining the team as an urban farmer! ** Not open to the public except during tours, workshops and volunteer sessions.

4 UNPACKT 6A SHENTON WAY DOWNTOWN GALLERY #03-05, 068815 6 JALAN KURAS, 577724

facebook.com/pg/UnPackt.SG Singapore’s first zero-waste grocery store sells a variety of bulk goods, from olive oil and cane sugar, to soap and baked apple chips. All items sold in the store are package-free, so come prepared with your own containers or tubs, measure out the amount you want and pay according to weight.

5 BOLLYWOOD VEGGIES 100 NEO TIEW ROAD, 719026

bollywoodveggies.com Bollywood Veggies is worth the hike. Set in the beautiful Kranji countryside, it’s a peaceful jungle farm, with seasonal crops of wild bananas, herbs, blue pea flowers, sweet potato, tapioca, bitter gourd, bottle gourd, long bean, lady’s finger, pumpkin, fig, and aloe vera. Try fresh and delicious farm-to-table dishes at Poison Ivy Bistro, take a farm tour, or get your hands dirty with a workshop. They offer a range of classes - from potting, to cooking, or learning about plant medicine.

6 THE GREEN COLLECTIVE FUNAN, #02-18, 179105

facebook.com/thegreencollectivesg More than 40 homegrown eco brands teamed up to launch this green concept store at Funan. Curated based on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, the collective offers a wide range of sustainable, eco and socially conscious products and regular workshops, ranging from soap making, DIY lip balm, composting, plant swap and upcycling.

7 SUNGEI BULOH WETLANDS RESERVE 301 NEO TIEW CRES, 718925

nparks.gov.sg Discover a nature paradise at Singapore’s first ASEAN Heritage Park. The Sungei Buloh Wetlands Reserve is rich in biodiversity, with 202ha of mangroves, mudflats, ponds and forests. Trek through trails and discover native inhabitants like mudskippers, crabs, shellfish, water snakes, birds, spiders, monitor lizards, and otters.

Admire resident birds such as herons, kingfishers and sunbirds.

8 AFTERGLOW 24 KEONG SAIK ROAD, 089131

facebook.com/afterglowsg This hip Keong Saik Road eatery offers an evolving menu of vegetarian, mostly raw, plant-based food. Try the Raw Pizza, made with an almond crust and fresh vegies, or the Cuban Burger ($20), a black bean patty with salsa and guacamole in a brown rice bun. There are also fabulous zingy salads, soups and delicious Avocado Kimchi Rolls ($15). Finish with feel good desserts like the Chocolate Caramel Salted Fudge ($12.5) made with avocado, cacao, tahini and dates.

9 TAMPINES ECO GREEN TAMPINES AVENUE 9 AND TAMPINES AVENUE 12

nparks.gov.sg Tampines Eco Green is an eco-friendly park that offers a sanctuary for flora and fauna and nature recreation. If peace and quiet is high on your agenda, you’ll find it here. No vehicles – not even bicycles – are allowed, and there are no lights after dark. The park is home to open grasslands, freshwater wetlands and a secondary rainforest - a great spot for visitors to enjoy hiking, bird watching, and wide open spaces.

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DATE: Tuesday 7 April TIME: 10.00am – 12.00pm MEET: 9.50am, Holland Village MRT, exit A COST: Member: $35, nonmember: $40

Secrets of Holland Village

This vibrant neighbourhood was named in honour of architect Hugh Holland, one of its early residents.

From a gambier and rubber plantation in the 1870s to a bustling military village in the 1930s, Holland Village has transformed to become a trendy neighbourhood with charming shops, cafes, eateries and nightlife. Our walking tour begins at Chip Bee Gardens, once the home of high-ranking British soldiers.

See Singapore’s last Hakka graveyard, the hidden gem of the Yin Fo Fui Kun Cemetery nestled in the middle of a residential estate and surrounded by HDB blocks.

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Spirit Medium

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DATE: Saturday 25 April TIME: 5.30am – 9.00am MEET: 5.20am, Newton Food Centre COST: Member: $10, nonmember: $15

© Ken Cheong for NUS Baba House

Baba House and Peranakan Lunch

DATE: Tuesday 5 May TIME: 10.00am – 1.00pm MEET: 9.50am at Baba House, 157 Neil Road, 088883 COST: Member: $30, nonmember: $35.

ANZAC Day

Kranji War Memorial Cemetery is atmospheric at any time of day, however nothing compares with remembering the fallen at the ANZAC Day dawn ceremony. The Australian and New Zealand communities in Singapore will gather at the Kranji War Memorial Cemetery to commemorate the 105th anniversary of the Gallipoli landings, hosted by the Australian High Commission.

ANZA Tours provides buses that will depart Newton Food Centre car park at 5.30am sharp and leave the Cemetery around 8.15am, returning to Newton with an optional drop off at Boomerang café for breakfast at your own cost.

Once the ancestral home of the Wee’s - a Peranakan Chinese family - today NUS Baba House is one of Singapore’s most treasured sites. Our tour of this superbly restored Peranakan heritage house will take you on an experiential trip into a Peranakan Chinese family home of the early 20th century. The tour concludes with lunch at nearby Blue Ginger restaurant to experience delicious Peranakan cuisine. Lunch is included in the tour. Great for visitors!

Pulau Ubin Ride for Charity

Fleur Maidment

DATE: Thursday 16 April TIME: 6.00 – 9.30pm MEET: 5.50pm, bus stop in front of Block 149, along Jalan Bukit Merah COST: Member: $25, nonmember: $30

Discover the fascinating and mysterious world of the Spirit Medium. This traditional, enigmatic practice of communicating with the Gods through a medium still thrives in the Lion City. Tour guide Charlotte Chu will provide commentary as we witness the medium enter a trance while devotees seek advice from him. Who knows, you might just want to step up and ask the Spirit Medium about your own fortunes. Try some traditional homemade popiah and Hokkien cuisine; guaranteed to fortify you before facing the Spirit Medium!

DATE: Thursday 14 May TIME: 9.30am – 1.00pm MEETING: 9.20am, Changi Point Ferry Terminal, 51 Lor Bekukong, 499172 GETTING THERE: Bus 2 to Changi Village Hawker Centre COST: Member: $35, nonmember: $45

Journey across the seas to Pulau Ubin to see kampong village life and explore the unique nature and history of the island. Ubin’s eastern end was once an airy retreat for expats and is now a marine sanctuary. Keep your eyes peeled – we might spot hornbills, monkeys or wild boar!

Cycle along quiet tracks through the jungle, stopping at a spice garden, spectacular reservoir and historic temple. Enjoy refreshments or lunch with new friends, at your own cost. Cost includes the bum boat (to and from the island), bicycle hire and a donation to charity.

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OUT & ABOUT

NEW MEMBER’S NIGHT

Don Northey, Kerry Low

ANZA warmly welcomed over 100 new members from all corners of the globe on 18 February at the historic Singapore Cricket Club.

There was much chatting and connecting between seasoned expats and newcomers, with many having arrived in Singapore just weeks earlier! A couple of lucky members took home a bottle of bubbly, thanks to AAM Advisory, and one scored a wine hamper, donated by the Singapore Cricket Club.

PREMIER NEW MEMBERS SPONSORS

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WINE SPONSOR

BEER SPONSOR

LOGISTICS SPONSOR

April 2020

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VENUE PARTNER

ORGANISED BY

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OUT & ABOUT

LADIES NIGHT CARLTON CITY HOTEL

It was great to see so many lovely women come out for ANZA Ladies Night at The Trading Floor - a stunning lounge and bar housed in the Carlton City Hotel’s elegant lobby. Plenty of newbies joined in and picked up valuable tips from our seasoned members. Join us at the next Ladies Night on Wednesday 15 April at Naumi Hotel’s Table Restaurant and Bar. Register at anza.org.sg/events

VENUE PARTNER

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ORGANISED BY

April 2020

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THRIVING IN SINGAPORE

Lots of brand new faces joined us at the Singapore Cricket Club on 27 February for Thriving in Singapore - a fun and informative session to help newcomers settle into the Lion City. Everyone went away with lots of practical tips - from managing finances, to essential legal docs, food and culture, dental and medical clinics, and more.

Some lucky winners even picked up bubbly and other prizes!

PREMIER SPONSORS

SILVER SPONSORS

VENUE SPONSOR

ORGANISED BY

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ISSUE

New Zealander JENNIFER BOGGISS is the CEO and Co-Founder of Heilala Vanilla, a company that works in partnership with a farming community in Tonga to produce world leading vanilla products.

She talks to ANZA about how the social enterprise started 15 years ago.

What’s the story behind Heilala Vanilla?

My father John Ross, a retired New Zealand dairy farmer sailed to Vava’u, in the Kingdom of Tonga on a boat he’d built himself. He fell in love with the place and the people and when Cyclone Waka caused extensive damage to the Vava’u island group, he travelled back with friends from his Rotary Club to help with the clean-up. To thank John for his efforts, a local family gifted him a plot of land in exchange for him using it to provide employment to those in the village.

On a previous trip to Tonga, John discovered vanilla orchids running wild and after some research and visits to established vanilla farms in Réunion Island, Tahiti and Madagascar, he got to work on his own plot and subsequently partnered with other growers throughout Tonga to establish Heilala’s vanilla plantations.

Heilala’s transparent supply chain, clean label ingredients and positive social impact to local grower communities are embedded in our DNA. ‒ JENNIFER BOGGISS

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Left: Founder John Ross Below: Hand pollination

Where and how is vanilla grown?

Vanilla thrives in the conditions afforded in a narrow 20-degree band either side of the equator, and is perfectly suited to the hot, humid growing conditions in Tonga. Vanilla is the only fruit-bearing member of the orchid family. The large orchid plants bear a small creamy, yellow flower and on the day of opening the flower must be hand pollinated.

Once pollination is completed, nine months later, a fully-grown green bean is ready to be picked. This green bean then undergoes a complex curing process where the flavour develops, and the bean turns dark brown/ black. It’s one of the most labour-intensive agricultural crops in the world, taking three years to develop and nurture the vines through the on-going art of careful training, weeding and looping, all whilst ensuring sustainable farming is practiced.

How does it support local villages in Tonga?

How would you suggest using the vanilla?

As our farms grow along with the demand for real vanilla, there is increased employment across the villages, particularly of local women in Tonga. Being an integral part of Heilala Vanilla gives our team the confidence, knowledge and business skills to step up to more strategic roles. As a result, there is an instilled sense of purpose and pride, which has a powerful effect on their independence, families, economic growth and the well-being of their communities.

Heilala Vanilla is the Bourbon variety and the flavour profile is creamy, sweet and rich. Use it in baking, or add a dash to smoothies, cocktails or tea and coffee for a delicious flavour hit. Our vanilla bean paste contains real vanilla seeds, which adds an authentic touch to light coloured desserts such as ice cream, classic vanilla swiss roll, rhubarb and vanilla baked custard and eclairs with vanilla cream.

How is sustainability part of the brand?

You can purchase Heilala Vanilla in Singapore from Foster Foods fosterfoods.sg

Consumers today are demanding to know more about the ingredients they’re consuming, they want to know exactly what’s in their food, and how it was sourced and produced. Heilala’s transparent supply chain, clean label ingredients and positive social impact to local grower communities are embedded in our DNA. Along with selling vanilla beans, we have created a range of added value vanilla products to ensure the entire crop is utilised resulting in zero waste.

What makes Heilala Vanilla so delicious?

Typically, vanilla is traded as a commodity like cocoa and coffee.

Heilala is unique as the world’s only vanilla producer that grows, manufactures and markets the spice itself. Having control of the entire process - from plantation to pantry - ensures a consistent product every time. This is one of the reasons chefs love it.

Where can we buy the vanilla in Singapore?

Finish this sentence… “We can save the planet if we all…” ...be more conscious about what we buy, and where we buy it from.

Using our voices and our purchasing power to make sure our money is going towards positive change.

Anything else you’d like to add?

Most people don’t realise that most of the world’s vanilla (or vanilla flavoured products) is synthetic or artificial. The global market for pure vanilla is small, an estimated two per cent of the global vanilla trade! heilalavanilla.co.nz

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ISSUE

Setting up a home in Singapore and want to adopt, not shop?

JONATHAN ROELANDTS, MD of Soul & Tables and Flexisnug, offers affordable, sustainable furniture rentals.

What is Flexisnug?

We offer sustainable, affordable furniture rental solutions to people in Singapore with temporary furnishing needs. Our highquality pieces reflect our values of ecoconsciousness and sustainability. Whether you’re renting for a few days, months, or years, we’ll take care of the delivery and removal services.

Why is sustainability important?

It’s the main reason we launched it! Being a nature lover, I wanted to start a company with a strong sustainability purpose. I studied a few other options, such as plastic recycling, but I eventually came up with the concept of sustainable furniture rental.

How does it work?

You select the rental period and the products you would like to have delivered.

The longer the rental period, the lower the monthly price. At the end of period, you can extend, buy, return the products or even change to other products. You can also buy the products at any time and all payments made will be deduced from the retail price.

What brands do you offer?

We offer solid wooden furniture from Ethnicraft, accessories from Notre Monde, outdoor metal furniture from Fermob, chairs from Woven +, rugs from Grey House, cushions from Mae Woven. We are

Consu mers are increasingly buying poorly a nd cheaply made furniture that they dispose of after a few years, rather tha n quality products that pass from generation to generation.

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working hard to source few new brands.

All products go through our dedicated workshop for maintenence and professional cleaning before being rented again.

What is the eco benefit of renting over buying furniture?

It helps to reduce furniture waste that will end up in landfills. It also reduces pollution from furniture production and international transport. When Flexisnug is repacking items, we do all we can to avoid plastic use.

Our movers use reusable blankets during the moving process, and we reuse our carton boxes as many times as possible.

We also work closely with our suppliers on how they can limit the amount of plastic and foam used in their packing materials and opt for recycled or recyclable materials instead. All our wooden products come with eco-certification such as 100% FSC certified - wood harvested from forests that are responsibly managed, socially beneficial, environmentally conscious, and economically viable.

What are the waste problems in furniture/home decoration?

Consumers are increasingly buying poorly and cheaply made furniture that they dispose of after a few years, rather than quality products that pass from generation to generation. Unfortunately, this is not without consequence for Mother Earth and contributes to one of the major current ecological challenges: waste management.

How do you personally live a green lifestyle in Singapore?

I do a lot of errands by bike and avoid single-use plastic as much as I can. I’m also a conscious shopper and don’t excessively consume things I don’t really need or won’t use regularly. For a few years I’ve also drastically reduced my meat consumption.

Finish this sentence: ‘We can save the planet if we all…’ …do our part.

flexisnug.com.sg facebook.com/flexisnug instagram.com/flexisnug 9011 1149

11/3/20 11:29 PM

HUNGRY FOR A DEAL?

ANZA

SUPPER CLUB ESTD

2018

Visit the ANZA Supper Club for exclusive offers on food & beverages in SG.

anza.org.sg/supperclub

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SPONSORED CONTENT

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ooking for the smoothest banking transition?

HSBC makes it easy for expats to open an account and enjoy tailored expat banking services. From remittance and currency exchange, searching for housing and schools, and even health and lifestyle – their comprehensive and affordable solutions will help you get settled in the Lion City in no time.

HSBC also have lots of local tips to help their expat customers in Singapore, including financial, housing and lifestyle advice.

Premier Banking benefits:

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6/3/2020 10:13:35 AM

ISSUE

MICHAEL ISSENBERG, Accor’s CEO Asia-Pacific, talks to ANZA about the company’s commitment to eliminate single use plastic from their hotels across the world by 2022.

Why has Accor joined the fight against plastic?

Our hotels use more than 200 million single-use plastic items every year. We are working to eliminate unnecessary plastic elements; to innovate so that all necessary plastics are designed to be safely reused, recycled, or composted; and to adopt a circular model so that all used items are kept in the economy and out of the environment.

What is the Global Tourism Plastics Initiative?

Accor was the first global hospitality group to engage with the UNEP Plastic Tourism programme and is a proud leading partner of the initiative. The Global Tourism Plastics Initiative, led by the UN Environmental Programme and supported by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, marks the fight against plastic waste and pollution.

Governments and businesses, such as Accor, have ambitious targets to eliminate plastics wherever possible.

Plastic is a major problem for the environment - over 8,300 million tons of plastic has been produced since the 1950s, of which 79% has been discarded in landfills or nature. ‒ MICHAEL ISSENBERG

One million plastic bottles

are currently used every minute and

93% are not recycled.

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biodegrade.

What has Accor already done to reduce plastics?

Accor committed to eliminating plastic straws, stirrers and cotton buds by the end of 2019, and progressively replacing other disposable plastic (plastic bottles, laundry bags, glasses, individual packaging for amenities, accessories, etc) with eco-friendly products.

I’m proud to say that 94% of our hotels globally have met this commitment.

We now want to go even further. We have a commitment to reduce single use plastics (takeaway containers, breakfast portions, coffee pods etc), with a target to achieve this by the of 2020. We also focus on local, sustainable produce to give our guests the healthiest and most environment-friendly dining options.

What are some plastic alternatives?

Any material that enables the product to be reused (at least 10 times) such as wood (including bamboo), glass, metal, and stainless

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steel. There are alternatives made from cardboard, paper or wood fiber but they must be certified to ensure they don’t contribute to deforestation. So, we are looking at things like stainless steel straws, bamboo key cards, beeswax food wrapping instead of plastic clingfilm in kitchens, and much more.

What’s happening in Singapore and beyond?

In Singapore, Fairmont Singapore and Swissotel The Stamford have launched their own aquaponics garden within their property rooftop which allows them to reduce food imports by farming fresh vegetables, fruits and fish to further reduce plastic packaging.

Fairmont is replacing the plastic water bottles at turndown service with a water glass and custom designed coaster, educating guests on the quality and safety of local tap water, as well as the important benefits of reducing plastic waste. We believe educating and involving our guests in the process is important to a successful transition.

What other areas are you working on?

Accor has committed to reducing food waste by 30 per cent before 2021, not just here in Singapore but globally at our 5000 hotels and resorts around the world. Our Plant for the Planet programme has reforested an area equivalent to 2,500 football pitches around the world with over seven million trees planted in more than 375 locations across 29 countries. Our next major area of focus is carbonneutral buildings.

How can your guests help reduce waste?

Bring your own amenities during travel, especially for short trips. Reuse towels and bedding; turn off lights and air conditioning when you leave the room, and take shorter showers.

We are introducing Green Packages, which allow guests to discover and contribute to the hotel’s local sustainability projects.

For example, at MGallery Chiang Mai guests can visit a local farm and learn about sustainable farming before enjoying a meal using freshly grown ingredients.

Finish this sentence… “We can save our planet if we all…” …believe that even the smallest green actions count and if we realise the time for action is now. * Single-use plastics are items that are used only once and then discarded, such as coffee stirrers, toothbrushes, cotton buds, plastic straws, and plastic drink bottles.

ISSUE

ANZA member JENNIFER GREGORY is the GM of Indosole, an environmentally conscious footwear company that re-purposes tyres to produce the soles of durable, eco-friendly footwear.

Tell us about your Singapore journey so far?

I moved here from Melbourne with my husband, Jason, and two kids, Zoe and Max, just over three years ago. Both my kids are at AIS and we joined ANZA about six months ago.

We immediately enrolled the kids into ANZA Athletics, which they absolutely love!

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How did you become involved with Indosole?

I came across the brand at The Social Space cafe in Kreta Ayer Road after hearing about their social enterprise mission and great coffee. They stocked Indosole Flip Flops and I thought it was an awesome idea to turn tyres into shoe soles.

A few months later I met the founder, Kyle Parsons, at his

flagship store in Canggu, Bali during an open day. It was serendipitous getting to meet core members of the Indosole team. We got on well, had a shared vision for the future of using waste as resource, the need for more sustainable and responsible production in all industries.

The idea to bring Indosole to Singapore grew from there.

1.5

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DISPOSED of globally

EVERY YEAR.

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Why is it important to you to work with a company with green ethics?

There are so many issues our planet and people are facing and I want to be part of a solution, not part of the problem. There’s a quote I’m reminded of every day as a Mum: ‘We don’t inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.’ What impressed me about Indosole is their commitment to B-corp certification - proof that they meet the rigorous standards of social and environmental performance required by the non-profit, B Lab. It’s all about

using business as a force for good - putting purpose, people and planet at the forefront of everything they do.

What’s Indosole’s mission?

To become the most responsible footwear company in the world, delivering high quality, responsibly made, environmentally-friendly footwear.

Tell us about tyre waste globally?

In some countries a percentage is recycled, but most are still dumped into landfill or sit in stockyards, illegal dumping

sites, and even rivers. In tropical countries tyres can become breeding grounds for mosquitoes, which lead to nasty diseases like malaria and dengue fever. In developing countries, tyres are used as a cheap alternative for fuel, resulting in toxic oils and fumes that are harmful for human health.

How does Indosole use tyres to make shoes?

Indosole began with humble beginnings - manually cutting soles for shoes out of tyres but there was still waste as they couldn’t use the whole tyre. After intensive research and development, Indosole developed their own process which pulverises the tyre into a fine powder and resets it with natural and recycled rubber.

This malleable tyre gel is then set in a mould to form the sole of a shoe with minimal waste.

It’s all about using business as a force for good - putting purpose, people and planet at the forefront. ‒ JENNIFER GREGORY

We now use 100% of the tyre and have so far saved over 80,000 tyres from landfill. And if you’re wondering, this equates to 220,000 pairs of Indosoles!

What shoes do you make?

The ESSNTLS range, which includes men’s and women’s Flip Flops, Slides and the Cross Sandal, and a Kid’s Flip Flops range. In Singapore, many people are being introduced to responsible fashion and sustainability concepts through purchasing Indosole shoes. We like to think we are part of many customer’s journey towards more conscious and sustainable consumerism.

How do you personally live a green lifestyle in Singapore?

As the primary shopper in the household, I consciously choose minimal packaging wherever possible and shop in bulk using my own containers at both Unpackt and Scoop Wholefoods whenever I can. I make green swaps for household products - like not using cling wrap (we haven’t bought any in three years!) and using solid shampoo and conditioner bars (from local brand Solid Skincare Co) which have made a huge impact on the waste we create.

We take reusable shopping bags when we go out, and even our own cutlery and cups when we go to Hawkers, so we don’t have to use disposables.

How do you educate your kids to make better choices for the planet?

By living by example. The most important thing we can teach our kids is to question where things come from, who made them, and what the impact of their choices have on our planet.

Finish this sentence… “we can save the planet if we” … …are aware our choices can have a positive impact on both the environment, the people that produce our goods, and the global shift to conscious consumerism. indosole.com.sg

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ISSUE

LOCO FOR SUSTAINABILITY

Hailing from Brisbane, WILLIAM LEONARD brings a sustainable focus to his latest role in Singapore as Group General Manager, The Loco Group. The group owns four restaurants in Singapore - Lucha Loco on Duxton Hill, Super Loco Robertson Quay, Super Loco Customs House, and Chico Loco on Amoy Street.

W

illiam is as passionate about the environment, as he is about offering authentic Mexican flavours. In 2019, the group achieved carbon neutrality after successfully offsetting 100% of its carbon emissions.

Will also formed the first F&B Sustainability Council, as well as a partnership with GreenSteps Group, a reforestation start-up.

William talked to ANZA about becoming one of Singapore’s leaders in food sustainability.

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Tell us about the F&B Sustainability Council?

It’s a collective of small to medium sized passionate businesses, galvanised by the vision of a Singapore where sustainability will one day be just as important in the DNA of every business as turning a profit. We hold quarterly roundtables to share best practices, serve as a source of motivation for one another, but more importantly work on solving the most seemingly complex and difficult challenges our businesses face in being sustainable.

What are the goals for the group?

In the short-term, we are setting individual goals for our respective companies and will hold each other accountable to our own progress, as well as measure the cumulative impact we have as a council. All members have also committed to an assessment of their operational carbon footprint and we will determine how to offset and reduce it. In the long term, we aim to solve the challenge of processing food waste at the local level.

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Sustainability will one day be just as important in the DNA of every business as turning a profit. ‒ WILLIAM LEONARD

How has The Loco group been working on sustainability?

We were inspired to start on our sustainability journey by Green is the New Black (greenisthenewblack.com), a lifestyle media and events platform highlighting the most conscious brands, events, experiences and people around Asia. They provided us with a simple operations roadmap and a starting point. Initially we sought internal volunteers, and gathered the team together to identify who the champions were in our restaurants to drive the change initiatives.

We galvanised a lot of support from our operations team in implementing changes, starting with easier ones, like switching out certain products we were buying. Then we looked deeper at products like food and paper to see if they were coming from an ethical source. I’d advise anyone starting out to focus on a few actionable items to score a few wins first, which motivates you to tackle more complicated stuff. We gather our sustainability champions together regularly to update each other on progress and keep moving forward.

What have The Loco Group achieved?

By far the most difficult was doing an assessment of our restaurant operations carbon footprint, then offsetting it. We’re working on planting more trees, with a view to be carbon negative in the next four years.

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12/3/20 12:04 AM

MILESTONES Switching suppliers to ensure all our fish approximately 300kg a week - comes from a

What are some of the initiatives at your individual restaurants?

One of our bar teams decided to have their denim aprons repaired by a local tailor rather than buying new ones. They also make stocks and products from left-over fruit husks and peels to be used in cocktails.

What are your future environmental goals?

We’re increasing the number of plant-based offerings on our menu to 45% this year, aiming to reduce the amount of cleaning chemicals in our operations by 30%, and increasing the number of zero waste ingredients to 50% of our bar and cocktail program. Where possible, we want to ensure all the electricity that powers our venues comes from a sustainable source and do an energy audit to reduce water and electricity usage. Hardest of all we want to find ways to compost or process the food waste leftover on plates, rather than it going in the bin.

How can restaurants be more responsible and sustainable?

It boils down to two things in my opinion: the things you consume and the things you throw away. By consume I mean; electricity, the water you use, food products you buy, packaged items you buy etc. By throw away I mean - everything that goes in the bin or down the drain.

Start with these two areas and ask yourself if it’s the best possible way to do it. It’s an ongoing process to make the footprint you leave behind your business a little smaller each week, each month, and each year that you’re in operation.

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We’ve reduced

the use of 150,000 plastic straws a year

sustainably farmed source, and all our

and 40,000 kilograms a year in glass waste from going to landfill.

chicken is ethically raised, free-roaming and organic-fed.

At least

How can diners be more mindful?

30% of our menus are

vegetarian.

We ensure all printing paper comes from an

FSC-sustainable source, optimised processes to reduce 30,000 pieces of paper being printed each year, and there is no palm oil in our operations.

We don’t import

bottled still or sparkling mineral water

How do you personally live a green lifestyle?

and instead filter Consumers are the and carbonate water most powerful link in the chain to Where practical and on site in each restaurant. make the world more sustainable. possible my wife and I do Where and how you chose to spend your small things to be as green dollar drives the economics of supply and as we can. We take reusable demand. Demand more from businesses bags when we go to the supermarket, and and back it up by spending on sustainable minimise energy and water consumption products or in businesses with sustainable at home. We try to buy food that’s not in practices. separate packaging (which is quite hard) Ask questions about the products you and we recycle. We buy our clothes from buy (like where they come from), and don’t brands we feel confident have ethical over consume something you don’t need or practices and we make our own cleaning don’t intend to fully utilise. Be forgiving - so sprays at home using baking soda. much perfectly edible food is discarded

because it doesn’t look the way we’re Who is your favourite eco warrior? programmed to believe it should. Most I’m always inspired by Stephanie Dickson, food looks imperfect, or is blemished, but founder of Green is the New Black. She’s businesses are too scared to sell it, fearing got so much courage and passion to make customers won’t be prepared to pay for it. sustainability ‘sexy’, which I feel is so critical When this behaviour starts to change, this to influencing consumer behaviour to be will make a huge impact. more conscious.

What are some ways we can eat and drink green in Singapore?

Finish this sentence...“We can save the planet if we all…”

Bring your own containers that you wash and reuse - don’t accept drinks or food in disposable plastic. Look at the origin of the products you buy to make sure they’re sustainable.

…consciously choose to spend our dollars only on products and services that are sustainable. super-loco.com

April 2020

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ISSUE

NEIL HUMPHREYS is one of the biggest selling authors in Asia, with 22 books to his name – including crime novels and children’s books.

Singapore has been home to the English born media personality since 1996. “I was invited by a Singaporean friend to stay in his family’s HDB flat in Toa Payoh. I intended to stay for a month or so. That was 20-odd years ago.

I’m still here.”

Neil talks to ANZA about his environmental passions.

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How have you and your family adopted a green lifestyle?

Pretty much everything is reused and recycled in our house. No food gets wasted or thrown down the chute. We prepare what we need, and any excess gets put in the fridge and eaten for supper or the next day. We have reuseable containers we take to hawker centres and coffee shops nearby (hawkers are happy, we don’t use their takeaway cartons). I avoid plastic bottles as often as possible, taking my own bottle everywhere.

I take public transport every day and cycle if I need to make local trips. As a family, we minimise plastic waste and won’t buy a load of presents for birthdays

and Christmas just for the sake of it. I’m also vegetarian, which is obviously the easiest and most measurable way to reduce one’s carbon footprint. Go for an extra veg dish instead of a meat/fish dish at the economy rice stall. It’s cheaper and your body will thank you for it. Just eating less meat and doing all the above – day to day – are simple, easy ways to reduce our carbon footprints. We’ll save money, help the planet and reduce the cockroaches in our rubbish chute because they’ve literally got nothing to eat. What’s not to like?

How do you lower your power bills?

We only do full loads of washing and I’ll tend to wear the same clothes far too often before washing! We keep the air con to a minimum and our showers very short.

I take my utilities bills very seriously. I’m way below the national average and my neighbours average. I see it as a personal challenge!

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16/3/2020 3:35:53 PM

Seven million vegetarians won’t save the planet. But seven billion people that decide to eat less meat and recycle/reuse more can save the planet. It really is that simple. ‒ NEIL HUMPHREYS

Can you list a few hawkers around Singapore that offer great vego food?

These days, just about every hawker centre has a non-meat option. If they don’t, I won’t eat there. My hawker centre in Sengkang, opposite Compass One, has at least six stalls I use regularly (two vegetarian stalls, a North Indian stall, economy rice stall, and a couple of zi char stalls for veggie hor fun).

Really, if you have a zi char stall, you should never go hungry.

What are your favourite veg dishes?

I’m a simple foodie really. Tofu in soya sauce with brown rice, broccoli and curried vegetables and I’m a very happy man. Or a good paneer makhani, or palak paneer, malai kofta, aloo gobi with some garlic naan is close to food heaven for me. If I had to pick a last meal, it would just be an enormous buffet of North Indian dishes. I’m a big fan of the original Komala Villas and Gokul restaurants in Little India.

Tell us about your work with World Wildlife Fund?

My children’s book series – Abbie Rose and the Magic Suitcase – about a young, feisty, independent eco-warrior who travels the globe with her trusty sidekick trying to save endangered animals and their fragile environments. One book was about the Sumatran tiger. The WWF has done great work helping to save the Sumatran tiger, so we collaborated on it. I’ve done several talks on endangered animals at schools.

How do we best educate kids on the importance of sustainability?

By entertaining them, rather than lecturing them. Kids are always smarter than adults give them credit for. They’ll remember a joke long after they’ve forgotten some dull PowerPoint presentation on biodiversity. Make them laugh. And they’ll remember the ecomessage behind the joke.

Is your daughter an eco-warrior?

Neil and Ab bie Rose at last year’s Eco Run.

She’s a vegetarian…by choice! She tries not to eat, drink, wear or do anything that will put the environment at further risk. The ironic thing is, she’s terrified of just about every living creature.

What are you writing now?

I just finished my third book in the Inspector Low crime thriller series, published in the UK in June. A third book in the Princess Incognito series, for middle grade readers, is keeping me busy now.

Then I’ll work on a TV series for both Inspector Low and Abbie Rose and the Magic Suitcase.

Finish this sentence...‘We can save our planet if we all…” ...get involved. That’s it. Seven million vegetarians won’t save the planet. But seven billion people that decide to eat less meat and recycle/reuse more can save the planet.

It really is that simple. neilhumphreys.net

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16/3/2020 3:59:26 PM

PIP HARRY spends a glorious 24 hours in residence at the newly renovated Raffles Singapore…and finds it very hard to leave.

I

t’s high on most people’s ultimate bucket lists: spend a night at the elegant Raffles Singapore. With our family postponing overseas travel plans due to Covid-19, there was no better time to tick the Grand Old Dame off mine. The heritage hotel has recently emerged from a meticulous two-year renovation, overhauling its guest rooms and public spaces. While retaining all its heritage charm, the designers have managed to bring modern flair and new energy to the 133-year-old building.

Arriving in the circular stone driveway and walking the Raffles red carpet, our overnight bags are swept away by a white suited doorman. The care and attention to detail of the restoration is immediately apparent. An oversized chandelier hangs high above the expanded Grand Lobby - its 8,142 twinkling crystals a mere centrepiece for the towering ceiling and grand double staircase.

Opened in 1887, Raffles Singapore is one of the great 19th century hotels in the world and it’s rightly proud of its long history and

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‘A List’ guest roll. We’re given a Raffles Butler for the duration of our stay, and he escorts us to our personality suite in the Palm Court wing, overlooking an expansive lawn and manicured tropical gardens.

PERSONALITY SUITES

We’ve been upgraded to the James Michener, one of 12 suites which pay tribute to renowned guests who have visited Raffles over the last century, including Charlie Chaplin, Elizabeth Taylor and Somerset Maugham. We discover more about the debonair Michener, who penned more than 40 books, including Tales of the South Pacific.

“To have been young and had a room at Raffles was life at its best,” said Michener, who became a regular guest after his first visit in 1949. Being so close to literary greatness inspires me to get back to my neglected novel. But first, I have a staycation to attend to…

The three-room suite is both a time capsule, and a tech wonder. Overhead fans, a four-poster bed, laden bookshelves,

wooden floorboards and a deep bathtub combine with an iPad which controls every feature of the space. A finger tap on the screen can turn on and off TV’s, lights and air con. It’s a feature my 10-year-old finds endlessly fascinating! She also appreciates the unlimited free snacks and soft drinks in the mini bar.

Before we explore the hotel, my butler has arranged a visit to the new Raffles Spa. He accompanies me to the appointment, located in the Raffles Arcade, dropping me safely with the welcoming staff for a 60-minute Absolute Relaxation treatment.

The glorious full body massage turns me from tense to liquid jelly. I float from the treatment rooms to the plush lounge for cut tropical fruit and herbal tea, followed by a dip in the hot pool. I would stay for a few hours and soak up the wellness vibes, but I have a dinner date waiting.

DRINKING AND DINING

What was formerly the Bar & Billiard Room has been transformed into a hip restaurant

April 2020

13/3/2020 11:07:39 AM

Tech wizardry meets heritage charm in the Palm Court suites.

Take a deep plunge in the bath.

Above: Raffles Singapore’s stunning saltwater pool. Below: BBR by Alain Ducasse

Every detail has been considered in the hotel’s sensitive restoration.

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13/3/2020 11:07:47 AM

F

irst opened on 1 December 1887, Raffles Singapore was a 10-room bungalow, leased by the Sarkies Brothers who hailed from Armenia.

Raffles now has 115 suites and has undergone several renovations.

O

ver the decades, as word got out about the opulence and service available at the seaside hotel, Raffles played host to the rich and famous, including Charlie Chaplin, Rudyard Kipling, Elizabeth Taylor and Karl Lagerfield.

T

he last tiger in Singapore was killed in the Raffles Bar & Billiards Room.

R and bar - BBR by Alain Ducasse. Helmed by the celebrated chef, the vibe is chic and relaxed, with splashes of burnt orange tones, a vibrant open kitchen and separate bar and alfresco terrace. Every Monday to Friday from 5-9pm BBR bar celebrates the tradition of the Italian Aperitivo and offers $18++ Italian cocktails and complimentary tapas bites. I order the Fruit of Summer - Botanist gin infused with kusmi tea, tawny port and fresh lemon juice. It tastes of summer, with hints of rose and citrus freshness. My husband goes for the classic Negroni - gin, Campari and Mancini Rosso, served over a branded ice block. We nibble moreish Spanish tortilla and tender paprika spiced octopus but save room for the main event in the impressive main restaurant.

Our host recommends sharing a few dishes from the Mediterranean-influenced menu. We start with two forks and a house made gnocchi with delicate truffle shavings.

The server also suggests, ever so politely, that we use the fresh table bread to mop up the juices left on the plate. So, we do!

More staycations!

Now is the time to stay and play in Singapore.

Many hotels around the island are offering added extras like late checkout, dining, spa treatments, champagne, and more. Try these two offers….

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The bread comes in handy for our mains – a lobster, sweet bell pepper and tomato bisque ($72) and juicy pork chop with olives ($88) - accompanied by a light chianti. We finish with Churros Con Chocolate ($9) - fluffy doughnut bites, dusted in cinnamon and dunked in rich, nutty chocolate dipping sauce. They are the best churros we have ever tasted. After dinner we walk past the Bustling Long Bar but alas, we can’t fit in another thing – not even a famous Singapore Sling!

HERITAGE AND HISTORY

In the dark cave of the Michener suite, we sleep for a solid nine hours, waking just in time for a relaxed breakfast at the Tiffin Room, followed by a Heritage Tour. Our guide is a Singaporean in his 60s, who has worked at the Hotel for many decades. As he recounts Raffles rich history, he drops in details about attending to Queens, Kings and Pop Stars. The highlight of the tour is getting a peek into one of the Presidential Suites – a huge two-bedroom apartment,

LUXURY Sofitel Singapore City Centre From S$370++ per night enjoy a luxury room, daily breakfast, and a 3-course Chef’s Signature Dinner for two people at Racines, plus late checkout until 6pm.

Valid for stays between now and 1 Jan 2021 on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday only. (Max two-night stay) Book by 31 Dec 2020. For more info visit all.accor.com

affles is the birthplace of the iconic Singapore Sling – a fruity concoction created by bartender Ngiam Tong in 1915.

with a wraparound veranda. At S$10,000 a night, I imagine it’s been the scene of quite a few wild celebrity parties!

For lunch we sample the famous curries at Tiffin Room. Part of Raffles’ history since 1892, Tiffin Room continues to serve up delectable North Indian cuisine for lunch and dinner. In celebration of Holi, the Indian festival of colours, Chef Kuldeep has dreamt up a special tasting menu, featuring vibrant vegetarian and meat curries, buttery roti and naan, and a melody of desserts, including carrot pudding, sweet dumplings and steaming chai. There’s just enough time before we check out to take a dip in the rooftop pool. Relaxing in the saltwater and gazing at Marina Bay Sands in the distance, we agree that this hotel stay will be very hard to beat. raffles.com

BUDGET ibis Singapore on Bencoolen is offering $130++ per room, twin share, and they’ll throw in a $15 dining credit per room each day. Valid until 1 Jan 2021. Book by 31 December 2020. For more information visit all.accor.com

April 2020

16/3/2020 4:10:47 PM

PROUDLY PRESENTED BY

Celebrating Welcome Busy Bees

A special night celebrating our amazing ANZA volunteers and community

Celebrate Our Community!

Volunteers are ANZA’s most important asset. Countless individuals and committees work tirelessly throughout the year to support our sporting, social and charity groups. Applaud our amazing volunteers at Celebrating ANZA, held at the Hollandse Club’s leafy Camden Hill Restaurant and Bar. This special night recognises ANZA’s incredible community spirit and our volunteers behind-thescenes efforts. Enjoy free flow wine and beer and delicious bites, as well as great tunes from live band – The Kicks. See you there!

POSTPONED

Thursday 16 April, 7pm (By invitation)

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

JAMIE BURGMANN, Private Wealth Manager at Select Investors answers a reader question about making financial choices that are good for the environment.

I want to build my wealth for my family’s future, but how do I also ensure, given the effects of climate change, that the environment they are growing up in is also improved in the future?

JAMIE SAYS: It’s easy to understand why you want to do your part for the planet – this is your family’s future we are talking about and reports show we are currently using 1.75 planet’s worth of resources. (Source: Global footprint Network 2018-2019). Through technology, science, social change, and regulation, we can reduce this resource drain and grow within our limits.

Responsible Investing (RI) is the latest trend we are seeing as a way to grow your wealth, while reducing your carbon footprint and helping to offset the effects of climate change. RI really can make a difference. For example, studies from Nordea Invest in 2018 have shown that moving your retirement savings to sustainable funds can be 27 times more efficient at reducing your carbon footprint than other green activities, like taking shorter showers, eating less meat and using public transport, combined. Our clients who have traditionally concentrated their investing fundamentals around performance,

strategic asset allocation, and risk versus reward are now shifting focus to the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) factors from their underlying investments. RI incorporates ESG factors in investment decisions and active ownership. ESG stands for: Environment - Climate change, resource depletion, waste, pollution, deforestation.

Social - Human rights, modern slavery, child labor, working conditions, employee relations.

Governance - Bribery and corruption, executive pay, board diversity and structure, political lobbying / donations and tax strategy.

Responsible Investing isn’t just about environmental and social responsibility. It makes investment sense. The RI market is rapidly increasing with the likes of electric vehicles, sustainable farming, digital infrastructure, meat substitutes and solar/ wind power generation. According to its website, the Principles of Responsible Investing (PRI) market has grown from approximately USD $30 trillion in 2013

to over USD $80 trillion in 2019 and now over half of the world’s institutional investors are signatories to PRI. We believe this trend will continue to grow, given the global focus to reduce the impact of climate change and increased corporate governance practices.

At Select Investors, we’ve taken the initiative to be more responsible when investing money on our client’s behalf with an A+ rating by PRI. Over 90% of St. James’s Place’s clients Funds Under Management are managed in accordance with the PRI. 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.

The article does not constitute to a recommendation or an investment advice, advice should be sought from a financial adviser before making any investment decision.

Jamie Burgmann, Private Wealth Manager at Select Investors, a Division of St. James’s Place (Singapore) Private Limited.

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.

Jamie.burgmann@sjpp.asia

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Select.Investors@sjpp.asia

6/3/2020 10:20:12 AM

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FRIDAY 29 MAY

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$35 Members $40 Non Members Gold coin donations on the day.

• Guest speakers • Delicious cakes & savouries • Charity prize draw

REGISTER ONLINE NOW! ANZA.ORG.SG SUPPORTED BY

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ISSUE

ANZA member JO MCKENNA and her family decided to cut back on meat consumption for environmental reasons. But that didn’t mean they had to give up their beloved burgers! Jo and her son Julian tried and tested Singapore plantbased meat alternatives like Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods.

W

atching the Amazon rainforest burning was heartbreaking and had devastating implications for the environment. Reading about how much red meat humans consume and how that was directly linked to the fires, was news to me and my family. I had no idea Brazil was the largest producer and exporter of beef in the world. I wanted to know what I could do to stop being part of the problem and start being part of the solution. I’d recently read about plant-based meat alternatives such as Impossible

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Foods (impossiblefoods.com) and Beyond Meat (beyondmeat. com). According to an article in Business Insider, plant-based meat is poised to become a $140 billion dollar industry.

I wanted to learn (and taste) more for myself.

I talked to my family and we all agreed to slowly cut back our meat consumption - starting with beef. Given that we all love a good burger and steak (well, mostly my 12-year-old son, Julian!) we decided to search out the best meat-free burger options in Singapore. It’s a tough gig, but somebody must do it!

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Our criteria for a meat substitute, was: 1. It tasted like the real thing 2. It had the same smell and texture and 3. It had that ‘sizzle factor!’

Potato Head, Chinatown ptthead.com/singapore

We loved everything about this place from the second we walked in! The artsy atmosphere and Chinatown location makes you feel like you’re hanging with the cool kids. They had four Impossible Burger options to choose from.

Julian chose the ‘Impossible Chedda’: double ketchup, onion puree, cucumber, jalapeño and cheese ($23) and I went for the ‘Impossible Dream’: mayo, heritage tomato, ketchup and onion marmalade ($27).

We agreed the burgers were great and ticked all our criteria for a tasty meat substitute. We would come back every day of the week for the cool vibe, music and amazing staff and to try the other Impossible Burgers.

Jo & Jules’ homemade burger – chez our house!

Last but not least, Julian and I dared to make our very own homemade Impossible Burger. We love BBQ’ing with friends on the weekends so we wanted to make sure our own plant-based burgers would be worthy of serving up. We followed our family recipe: mix egg, breadcrumbs, Worcestershire sauce, chopped onion and garlic powder with “meat” (in our case plantbased Quorn mince) and then shape into burgers ready to be popped on the BBQ. The result?

There’s an old saying that food always tastes better when you make it yourself and this time the adage proved correct.

These meat free burgers were absolutely, impossibly, delicious!

Burger & Lobster, Jewel, Changi Airport burgerandlobster.com

With family visiting from Australia and Ireland, we went out to Jewel Changi for lunch and a look around the impressive shopping and dining precinct. We had no agenda and stumbled across Burger & Lobster on the top level. Discovering they had an Impossible Burger on the menu we all decided to try one. Five Impossible Burgers it was! The plant-based burger patties are served in a pumpkin brioche bun with guacamole, crunchy kale lettuce, tomato, cheese, onion and a red pepper coulis.

Served with mouthwatering sweet potato fries and house salad ($22). Not only are you treated to a great meat free meal, you also get the view of the awesome four-story waterfall. Well worth the trip, and this one delivered high on the sizzle factor, and really did taste like the real thing!

WOLF Burgers wolfburgers.com

WOLF Burgers have three locations, the one we visited was located at PasarBella at

Suntec City Tower 2, on the ground level. It has nice big windows and an outside dining area made for people watching.

Their Impossible Truffle Burger ($17.90) was basic, but hit the spot for a quick, no frills, family friendly pick. They were happy to make your burger any way you like (no truffles, no problem!) They also have a Beyond Meat Future burger option, Miso Tofu Veggie Burger and Veggie Wrap.

Other Singapore locations offering meat-free burger options include: Sun Ray Cafe The Tiramisu Hero Park Bench Deli Prive, Wheelock Bread Street Kitchen CUT by Wolfgang Puck

What’s in it?

Wondering how the heck they make meat-free burgers taste like the real thing?

Impossible Meat is made from soy and potato proteins that deliver that meaty bite. Dextrose (a sugar found fruits and honey) and yeast extract add flavour and coconut and sunflower oils combine for that juicy sizzle. Methylcellulose (a culinary binder commonly found in ice cream, sauces, and jams), and food starch (a carbohydrate commonly found in foods like canned soup) bring it all together.

Beyond Meat uses pea, mung bean, fava bean and brown rice proteins as well as cocoa butter, coconut oil, sunflower oil and canola oil for the sizzle on the grill. Beet juice extract, apple extract and natural flavours deliver a faux meaty taste.

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HO T SP O T S

EAT

Pip Harry finds a shining star at Stellar at 1-Altitude, and relaxed family dining at Camden Hill Restaurant & Bar. STELLAR AT 1-ALTITUDE

Level 62, 1 Raffles Place, 048616 stellarrestaurant.sg

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CAMDEN HILL RESTAURANT & BAR

Hollandse Club 22 Camden Park, 299814 hollandseclub.org.sg/dining

C

amden Hill Restaurant & Bar is in the heart of the Hollandse Club, sprawling across a spacious deck that overlooks a lush green jungle setting, and gleaming 50m pool. Not a member? No worries. Guests are welcome at the laidback club’s signature restaurant, especially during the week when the scene is a little quieter.

The extensive, affordable menu features a range of Dutch classics (think mini fluffy pancakes or Poffertjes, Bitterballen meatballs and fries with mayo) and spicier Asian dishes. We start with an entrée of sweet roasted pumpkin on sourdough, with melted mild Taleggio cheese and a kale pesto sauce. It’s delicious. For mains we try the authentic Beef Rendang, with a creamy coconut sauce and a satisfying afterglow of heat and spice. The dry curry is served with fluffy rice, piquant pickled veg and crispy prawn crackers. Dessert is Crème Brulee, a smooth, just-warm vanilla custard, underneath a crack of caramelised sugar – it’s gone in six spoonfuls!

2 storeys above Raffles Place, Stellar boasts a plush, elegant dining room and knock-out Singapore views, but it’s what’s happening in the kitchen that’s seriously impressive.

Chef Chris Millar and his young offsider Chef Isaac Henry present a playful, modern Australian menu, delighting diners with an array of cleverly presented dishes that highlight sustainability and flavour.

We settle into a gorgeous setting of twinkly skyline views, starched linen tablecloths and romantic low lighting, to enjoy a progressive culinary journey.

Choose from either the six course Elements Menu (S$168++ per person), or the ninecourse version (S$228++) We opt for the full nine courses, because why not?

Every beautifully presented plate is a winner, but highlights include Sea and Tea, tender Fremantle octopus, cooked in camomile tea and paired with fennel and paprika. I also love The Floating Daisy, a velvety artichoke soup poured in front of me over ground hazelnut and saltbush, a salty native Australian herb. Taste the freshness of the ocean in Textural Me Dai, a fillet of Japanese Butterfish, served with rainbow chard, tobiko and finger lime. Meat lovers can sink their canines into A Cow in the Garden, a succulent slice of Mayura wagyu oyster blade, bone marrow, silky sweet potato, legumes and delicate shaved truffle.

We finish with Dessert Art, served on a glossy black board, right onto the table. The sweet spectacle features lashings of ice-cream, meringue, chocolate crumb, edible flowers and delicate pastries. It’s fun to share and tastes as good as it looks.

VERDICT: This elegantly crafted, surprising menu kept our tastebuds guessing. It’s no cheap eat, but Stellar is a star performer and worth every cent.

VERDICT: A lovely, leafy spot to gather friends or family for a relaxed meal – there’s a fantastic kid’s menu and dining and drinking options to suit any palette.

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April 2020

13/3/2020 10:40:03 AM

Pinball Wizard

DRINK

Tucked into the mall at Sim Lim Square lies this slice of retro heaven – complete with a pinball arcade, ping pong table, nineties tunes and psychedelic cocktails.

PINBALL WIZARD

Rochor Canal Rd, #B1-29 Sim Lim Square, 188504 pinballwizard.sg

ORDER UP!

Above: Banana Julius Flip. Below: Glitter Shots.

Pinball Wizard can be a little elusive to find, but don’t let that put you off – head to Sim Lim Square’s Prinsep Street entry and look for the basement staircase entrance – the bar is located next to Subway.

An unassuming door is a portal back in time. Step inside to discover wall-to-wall pinball and arcade machines, lava lamps and neon lit interiors.

We order two rounds of glitter shooters (10 shots for $80) The Peanut Butter and Jelly is a blend of black raspberry and hazelnut liqueur, vodka and cranberry juice. Crouching Tiger is an Asian inspired concoction of tequila, lychee liqueur and chrysanthemum tea. Both shots sparkle with edible glitter. Fancy! After a few rounds of pinball, we move onto the Signature Cocktails. The Yellow Submarine ($18) is a tropical mix of white rum, advocaat, lavender syrup, soda and mint. Flower Power ($18) is served in a tall glass,

with butterfly pea infused gin, apple juice, ginger, lemongrass, lime and sour plum powder. We finish with the Banana Julius Flip ($18), a dessert cocktail of vodka, crème de banana, maple syrup and buttermilk and the Salty White Russian ($18) spiced rum, Kahlua liqueur, salted caramel and milk. With a nostalgic buzz on, we reminisce about our 90’s days with an excellent house DJ spinning nineties and noughties tunes at the resident DJ booth.

WHAT’S TO EAT?

When we visited there wasn’t a bar menu, so come having already eaten!

DID YOU KNOW?

Pinball Wizard was created by the folks behind retro arcade bar and discotheque NINETEEN80 at Tanjong Pagar.

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TA ST E BU D S

CHICKEN SATAY SLIDERS Payal Thakurani dishes up creamy chicken satay sandwiches which are sure to please a crowd at any gathering.

Makes 10-12 sliders INGREDIENTS: Chicken marinade: 900g

11/2 tsp 2 tsp

1/2 cup 1/2 tbsp 1 tsp 2-3 tbsp

boneless thighs, skinned and halved ground cumin Thai curry powder (available at Golden Mile mall) condensed milk white sugar, optional salt coconut oil, for frying

Satay sauce:

1 cup coconut cream 2 cups coconut milk 2 tbsp Thai massaman or red curry paste 1/4 tsp salt 2 tbsp brown sugar or palm sugar 1 tbsp lemon/lime juice 3/4 cup coarsely ground roasted peanuts 1 tsp ground cumin

for 2-3 hours (or overnight). Bring chicken back to room temperature before cooking.

2. For the sauce, wok fry curry paste and coconut cream on a medium high flame, until oil separates. Add palm sugar, salt, and coconut milk, and stir gently until it comes to a boil. Pour in lemon juice, ground cumin and ground peanuts, stir and cook on medium flame for a few minutes until sauce thickens and oil surfaces. Serve warm. This sauce keeps well in the fridge for up to five days.

3. To cook satay, heat a tablespoon of coconut oil in a large, non-stick frying pan and cook for 3-5 minutes on each side until slightly charred and cooked through. Scrape the pan after each batch and discard charred bits.

4. Halve and toast brioche buns on a hot frying pan. Place greens on a bun followed by chicken. Drizzle some satay sauce on chicken, sprinkle some hot red chili pepper and serve.

To serve:

12 mini brioche buns Fresh lettuce or arugula red chili pepper, for serving

METHOD:

1. Mix cumin, curry powder, white sugar, salt and condensed milk. Pour over chicken strips, mix well and refrigerate 54 anza

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NOTE: For satay skewers, cut chicken into strips, marinade and refrigerate as above. Bring to room temperature and skew on soaked bamboo skewers.

Grill for 4-6 minutes. Brush them with coconut oil and turn occasionally until slightly charred and cooked through.

“I love chicken satay on a stick, but my favourite way to serve it is grilled, sandwiched between buttery-soft mini brioche buns, and topped with freshly made creamy satay sauce. Try making these beauties for a party or at a barbecue.”

Long term expat Payal Thakurani is an author, chef, cooking instructor and founder of Commune Kitchen cooking school in Downtown Gallery, Singapore.

For class updates, free recipes, or to order Payal’s cookbook, visit communekitchen.com

April 2020

13/3/2020 10:45:38 AM

TUCKE R B OX

MORE MEALS WITH FRIENDS RAELENE TAN continues her exploration of diverse dining here in Singapore.

MUSLIMS only consume food certified as halal (acceptable), meaning it has been processed, cooked and prepared according to Islamic law. Any part of a pig is haram (forbidden), being considered unclean. Ducks and frogs are not favoured and alcohol is forbidden. Fasting is observed during Ramadan, the month prior to the Hari Raya Puasa festival. Rice is the staple food, with chilli and spices, plus chicken, fish, meat and vegetables.

Founded in the sixth century in India, the JAIN faith promotes peace with all living things. Followers are strict vegetarians. Onions, garlic and root vegetables are avoided. Eggs are not eaten. Jains eat in moderation, avoiding alcohol. Fasting is common, especially during festivals and holy days. Popular dishes include grains, vegetables, chutneys and fruit.

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.

The ancient JEWISH religion, originating in the Middle East, believes in the teachings of the Biblical Old Testament. Judaism requires food to be kosher (pure). Pork is forbidden, as is shellfish. Fish must have fins and scales, such as salmon and seabass. Meat must be from animals with split hooves and that chew cud, like cows, sheep and goats. Dairy products are not served at the same meal with meat. Traditionally

there are six fasting days annually.

Popular foods include rice, bread, olive oil, grains, chicken, vegetables, fruit and nuts.

The SIKH (‘disciple’) religion originated in Punjab, north-west India in the 16th century. Sikhs do not eat beef, as cows are respected animals, or consume alcohol.

The staple diet includes lentils (dhal), chapatti (bread) and rice. Mildly spiced food is predominant, including tandoor (clay oven) chicken and fish.

TAOISM, founded in China about the sixth century, teaches that heaven and earth move in harmony (a balance of yin and yang). Balance is also reflected in their dietary habits, similar to Buddhists ways and tastes, with food usually being simple and light.

The ZOROASTRIAN faith, named after its founder, originated in Persia in the sixth century. Followers aspire to live kind and good lives. There are no specific dietary laws, although respect for food origins is a factor when choosing what to eat. Rice, lentils, pasta, chicken, fish and vegetables are popular.

We can all learn much about each other’s cultures through sharing meals together, better appreciating this diverse community we live in.

Excerpts from books in the series “Etiquette-A Matter of Course”

by Raelene Tan, published by Landmark Books.

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13/3/2020 10:48:09 AM

WANDERI NG YO G I

SUSTAINABILITY ON AND OFF THE MAT LEE CARSLEY explores the idea of emotional sustainability and harnessing our personal energy.

Y

ogis and green cultural trends are a good fit. Eating vegetables, supporting local producers, reusable water bottles, recycling, or creating our own worm farms, are part of the yoga blueprint for life. While there are less sustainable consumption practices associated with yoga (like high end athletic or boho fashion industries), long time yogis learn this world will eat itself up if we do not recognise our impact - on ourselves and others.

There’s something a little less noticeable, but critical to sustainability – harnessing your personal energy. As important as organic eating and green living, yogi’s believe if we don’t harness our personal energy practices, we burn ourselves and others out, and our relationships sour. We take more than we give and we stop caring. How do yogis harness their personal energy and the energy of others for world benefit? Two important yamas (a set of principles) guide us – aparigraha and brahmacharya.

1 Lee Carsley is the ANZA Yoga founding teacher, and Yoga Alliance CE trainer. When not teaching yoga to students and other teachers, she also leads meditation workshops and bespoke yoga retreats. Be the light, show the light, and travel light. anza.org.sg/groups/yoga

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APARIGRAHA is roughly translated as ‘non-greed’, ‘non-possessiveness’, and ‘non-attachment’. Aparigraha teaches to take only what we need, keep only what serves us in the moment, and to let go when the time is right. This usually means decluttering materially, which has a similar effect on our mind (less stuff to worry about). We also let go of long held emotions, particularly those that bring us down. We replace dislike or envy with gratefulness and appreciation. Practically, we ditch our attachment to social media stalking and material possessions. The world becomes larger, more positive, and we discover we can live without that new handbag and don’t want the one our best friend has. We practice aparigrha with our personal identities. Mother, writer, wife,

yogi – these are mine right now - what are yours? As yogis we understand these identities are not permanent. Even as a mother, our children grow up and leave home. Or we sustain an injury and can no longer teach yoga. We learn to enjoy them when they are here, let them go to make way for another ‘me’ to emerge.

2

BRAHMACHARYA isn’t the most popular of yamas; it’s often translated as ‘celibacy’ or ‘chastity’, but it means to forgo emotional possessions and attachments - to practice restraint with caring. It’s not saying don’t love, but don’t own when you love. We break up with friends or lovers, yet keep fond regard for them. We keep loving others, even if they don’t love us in return. Brahmacharya taught me I don’t own anyone, not even myself. This idea that our love for others (and ourselves) can burn us is not new. For most of us, the practice of brahmacharya happens as a result of a ‘disaster’ – death, relocation, divorce, or family fall out. Yogis learn to accept our loved ones fail us (and themselves), we let ourselves fail (learning to accept responsibility). Learning to let go to make way for something new, lor earning to care for people who don’t love us, is as much a part of our sustainability code, as a decision not to buy clothes for a year, or become vegetarian. The compassion (caring with restraint) begins to make the impossible possible – like saving this world from eco disaster.

How do you harness your personal energy and the energy of others?

April 2020

13/3/2020 10:56:09 AM

SOUL F UE L

FAILSAFE YOUR LIFE We’ve all fallen short or missed the mark in one way or another.

KIM FORRESTER has devised a list of things to remember when you feel like you’ve failed.

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3

1

4

ailure. We’ve all been there. We’ve all felt it. It may be that you put your heart and soul into something (a dream, a project, a relationship) and it didn’t work out. Maybe you set your creation free into the world, and it fell flat.

Perhaps you put your skills and talents against others, and they outshone you.

Falling short of your own (or others) expectations can hurt like hell. But the simple truth is that those who have never failed, are those who have never tried. here are four important things to remember when you feel like you’ve failed: You are built for challenge. Society has ingrained in us the misguided notion that it’s possible to eliminate all risk from our lives. But we are designed to face, and overcome, challenge. Just as the greatest social and technological advancements came from societies that faced environmental challenge, your greatest growth, creative expression and evolution occurs when life is rubbing against you in some way. Failure is an opportunity for you to rise to the challenge.

You are perfect the way you are.

Perfect doesn’t mean pleasant. It doesn’t mean exceptional and it doesn’t mean you’ll always reach the goals you’ve set for yourself. Remember, your most challenging moments can be the perfect catalyst for change; your most undesirable traits can be the perfect expression of authenticity.

2 Kim Forrester is a holistic wellbeing author, consultant and educator. kimforrester.net

Vulnerability is a sign of strength.

We have come to view vulnerability as a weakness, but being able to show disappointment, sadness, shame (the emotions that naturally arise when we feel we have failed) is an incredibly empowering characteristic. We all have times when we struggle with self-worth, validation and our own ideal of success.

Remaining truthfully, and sometimes painfully, connected to your emotions at these times can help you be more resilient, aware and open to solutions and opportunities.

There is a bigger picture. We have learned to set a goal and expect that life, like some universal GPS, will take us on the most direct route to our heart’s desire. All we have to do for this to happen is be good enough, committed enough, talented enough, beautiful enough. But, of course, life doesn’t function in a straight line. So, give things time. Hindsight and experience may very well reveal that your failure was just a necessary moment of learning, adjustment or revelation on your road to true fulfillment and success.

There will be times in life when you have to confront perceived personal or professional failure. Rather than wallow in these moments of fallibility, I encourage you to appreciate them for what they are: natural, inevitable and powerful opportunities for adaptation, growth and greater self-compassion.

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ANZ A GROU P S

SPORTS GROUPS

CASUAL COFFEE

AFL Adult men and women of all experience levels who are interested in Aussie Rules Football can get involved with the ANZA Singapore Wombats. Training is on Thursday evenings and Saturdays, with regular social events too.

ATHLETICS A track-and-field programme run by parents for kids 5 - 16, with a focus on fun, fitness and skills.

CRICKET Fields three teams in the Singapore Cricket Association. Training is at Singapore Cricket Club nets from 7pm on Monday evenings.

CYCLING 30km to long distance rides are held every morning to suit all skill levels, embracing road, MTB, triathlon and Audax disciplines.

SOCCER / LIONS ANZA’s men’s soccer team is a group of fun-loving, hard-working, soccer-crazy guys aged from their 30s to 50s. The Lions play mid-week Futsal on the East Coast, and Saturday Over 35s around the island.

TENNIS / CASUAL Social tennis at the Fairmont Hotel, Fridays 9 - 11am. Afterwards, take time out for coffee and a chat.

TENNIS / EXPERIENCED Mens, ladies and mixed doubles for players with reasonable skills. Wed 8 - 10pm, limited to 20 players.

YOGA ANZA Yogis practice a range of yoga styles in the Singapore Botanical Gardens.

GOLF / 9 HOLE Aimed at beginners, those seeking a handicap and those with a handicap over 25.

GOLF / LADIES The ladies meet every Wednesday in Singapore.

NETBALL / KIDS Accelerate your netball with ANZA Netball. Classes and competitive opportunities are available to players aged 6 - 16, Saturday mornings at Tanglin Trust School.

NIPPERS Children aged 5 - 14 learn beach and ocean awareness through fun activities, and connect with the great outdoors – meeting on Sunday mornings.

RUNNING Looking to find some running buddies in Singapore for regular casual runs? The ANZA Running Group meets Monday evenings at 7.30pm in the Singapore Botanical Gardens.

SOCCER / KIDS Soccer programmes for children aged 3 - 18, focusing on fair play and community. Matches on Saturday mornings at The Cage Sports Park @ Turf City; training on Thursday evenings.

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INTEREST GROUPS ANZA SCOUTS Open to boys and girls aged 5 - 17, Scouting is about meeting new friends, developing leadership skills and being outdoors.

The ANZA Scouts meet Saturdays at AIS from 2 - 4pm.

ANZA ACTION The community affairs arm for ANZA, supporting charities in Singapore through fundraising and volunteering activities. For info on the charities we support visit the ANZA website.

BOOK CLUBS We have a number of social book clubs that meet monthly in the morning or evening. Contact us to be connected with a group that meets at a time that suits you.

Join our Casual Coffee mornings, where you get to meet other members and relax in a comfortable indoor setting. Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, first floor of The Centrepoint, on the second Wednesday and last Friday of each month, from 10am - 12pm.

WINE CLUB The ANZA Wine Club aims to entertain and educate your passion for wine, plus fill your cabinets with fine wines from around the world.

It’s informal, fun and a great way to meet other wine enthusiasts. Join David Harker and Nicolas Olivry for regular tasting events.

CLICK! PHOTOGRAPHY The group meets regularly to share knowledge and advice in a friendly environment as well as going on photowalks across Singapore. All levels of experience are welcome.

MAHJONG This friendly group meets every week on Thursdays from 10am – 1pm at Boomarang on Robertson Quay.

INVESTORS INTEREST GROUP Meeting monthly to connect and discuss investments and important financial matters for expatriates. Whether just starting out in investing, or a seasoned professional, you can benefit from being part of the group.

STITCHES Interested in needlecraft? All levels are welcome to learn, mentor and sew.

SEA FISHING

KILL-O-METRES Join ANZA’s walking group each Monday to get together and get moving around some of Singapore’s great parks. Check the website for times and locations.

KNIT FOR LOVE Come along and knit beanies for Singapore Cancer Society chemotherapy patients. New knitters welcome – there will be friendly souls there to help you learn. The group meets on the third Friday of the month in the ANZA office.

A community of fishing enthusiasts who arrange regular boat trips across the Singapore Strait, The Andaman and South China Seas.

SECRET MEN’S BUSINESS Lunch and lager every third Wednesday of the month. Just turn up at The Penny Black, Boat Quay at 12.30pm. The lads also play golf in Singapore each Thursday.

SINGLE PARENTS NETWORKING FORUM

LADIES NIGHT A monthly get-together at different, funky locations. Bring your friends or come alone and meet new members. Ladies Night is just for the girls!

Being a single parent is never easy, and can be even more challenging when away from family and close friends. This group aims to provide support, advice, friendship and fun for single parents in Singapore.

WRITERS’ GROUP This group of new writers and published authors meets monthly to read and discuss their work.

BUSY BEES The Busy Bees get together fortnightly at the ANZA office to craft all the fantastic props that are used for ANZA’s major events. Props are sold at the end of the events to raise funds for charity. If you are crafty, or even if you’re not, this is a great fun group to join. For more details, or to register your interest in this group, please email info@ anza.org.sg

WANT TO SIGN UP FOR AN ANZA SPORT OR GROUP?

GO TO

ANZA.ORG.SG 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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12/3/2020 7:24:12 PM

M EET THE GROUPS

Casual Coffee

Looking for a morning coffee and a chat? ANZA Casual Coffee offers newcomers and seasoned ANZA members the chance to connect and share tips about life in Singapore.

Everyone is welcome, writes organiser SUE CHAMBERLAIN.

ANZA Casual Coffee was my lifeline during my early days in Singapore…meeting such wonderful people and sharing stories and experiences together.

- ANDRENA GARDINER

WHERE DO THEY MEET: Casual Coffee meets up at Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, at the Orchard Central mall. We gather at 10am - 12pm on every 2nd Wednesday and last Friday of the month (except for Public Holidays or the last Friday in December).

HOW DO I JOIN? ANZA Casual Coffee mornings are very relaxed and easy. If you’re a current ANZA Member, simply come along and meet new people.

BEST THING ABOUT THE GROUP? It’s very informal; there’s no registration, just turn up for a cuppa and a chat when you can. Meet the committee and regular attendees and enjoy the company of a constantly changing group of people.

ANYTHING ELSE YOU’D LIKE TO SHARE? I’m part of a great team who love having a chat and welcoming people to ANZA, Singapore and our range of events and various groups. Casual Coffee is a good introduction to all sorts of details about ANZA and living in Singapore. If we can’t answer your question, we might know someone who can. We provide very informal networking, too. We hope to see you soon. anza.org.sg/groups/casual-coffee

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N E T BA L L

DAD’S ON DUTY JAMES ADDINGTON-SMITH has been coaching ANZA Netball for five seasons and the community benefits so much from his passion and enthusiasm for the game. Not only does he encourage and build confidence in the netball players he coaches, but he’s inspired other like-minded dads to take on netball coaching.

James (right) and ANZA Netball coaches

How did you get into netball coaching?

I wanted both my daughters to participate in a club and a team sport on weekends.

My wife heard about ANZA Netball from friends and in 2015 we signed them up. I was happy to volunteer to be involved. That was the start of my netball coaching career!

What experience did you have?

Absolutely none; I’d never seen a game!

With the combination of “diving in with both feet” and access to coaching and umpiring courses, I quickly grasped the basics and sought lots of help from other experienced coaches. I also realised that any lack of experience could be made up with plenty of enthusiasm, especially coaching six-year-old’s!

What have you enjoyed the most about ANZA Netball?

I’ve really enjoyed watching the girls develop their skills from simple passing and catching, into a well drilled team with passion for the game. After a busy week travelling around the region for work, Saturday morning training/games are an opportunity for me to spend quality time with my daughters. I enjoy being part of their sporting lives. Over the last few years, especially in the 2009 year group, we’ve seen most of the girls returning year after year. This is a testament to their enjoyment of the game and the club.

It bodes well for a successful future for ANZA Netball.

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What changes have you seen?

Netball in Singapore has become more popular, with larger teams and more clubs playing, which is terrific for all the girls. The ANZA Netball committee has done a remarkable job bringing in professional coaches, many of whom used to be Singapore national team players, and developing multiple tournaments for all abilities. The outlook for ANZA Netball has never been better.

What would you say to other dads about coaching netball?

Jump in! I’ve not regretted one moment of spending the weekend time with my children, learning a new game, helping girls develop a new skill and making friendships with other coaches. ANZA Netball has a very warm and friendly atmosphere and is supportive of all fathers wanting to give it a go! I’ve also seen the difference it makes to my daughters’ enthusiasm when a parent is involved. I hope this article inspires more dads to coach! anza.org.sg/sports/netball

ANZA Flash team, who were victorious in their Sport Ready League division late last year.

Having a better understanding of the game, and seeing it played with speed, skill and spatial awareness by a well organised team has been terrific.

– JAMES ADDINGTON-SMITH

April 2020

12/3/20 12:26 AM

JOIN THE WOMBATS!

AFL

Ever thought about kicking a goal, catching a flying mark or being part of an awesome group of AFL players? You don’t have to be ultra fit or a superstar, the ANZA Singapore Wombats are always on the lookout for new players, writes BEN ADAMS.

T

he AFL season is in full swing and so is the AFL Asia season. If you’ve ever played footy, watched footy, or maybe kinda heard of footy - then the ANZA Singapore Wombats want you! Many people have told us over the years that they held off on coming down to training because they feared the standard would be too high, or their fitness wouldn’t be good enough, or because they’d never played before. Well let us put those fears to rest right now.

The Wombats and Wombettes have players ranging from as young as 17, all the way up to 59 years old, with fitness and skill levels just as varied. For every former VFL gun, there’s a total first timer. For every super fit youngster, there’s someone on the field with wonky knees and a bad back.

The great thing about the ANZA Singapore Wombats is that all are welcome.

If you’re new to Singapore, joining the Wombats is a great way to become part of a community and find a group of friends. We know it can be lonely and hard moving to a new country, and the Bats have all been through it ourselves at one time or another.

We train, play home games and tour on a weekly basis (except when there are long weekends), so check out the list below for our upcoming sessions and events. All our training and tour RSVPs are handled via TeamApp - available for free to download from your app store. Just search for Singapore Wombats once you have the app and get involved!

Other b memberesnefits of Womba ts hip includ Playing an e: d trainin

g Kit Team polo shirt Social eve nts such a s season la Golf Days, unch, in-season functions, Royal ANZ and the A Womba ts Ball!

Organised tours to C ambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, Hong Kon g, Jakarta the Asian , China an Champion d ships tourn Intra Club ament.

Reds V Blu es Series / Games / G Navy aelic Serie s / Sharks Mates!

Games Sunburn (o ptional) SPONSOR SHIP PER KS FROM 6 Drunk M en (beer a nd wine) Dallas Rest aurants an d Bars F45 (functi onal train ing) Australian Finance A dvocates Commerc (Home loa ial & Invest ns, ment loan and Car F s, Equipm inance) ent

UPCOMING DATES: SAT 4 APR

Bill Niko International Rules home game vs the Irish

SAT 18 APR

Men’s Training 1pm | Women’s Training 3pm

SAT 25 APR

ANZAC Day Vietnam Tour

SAT 16 MAY

Men’s Training 1pm | Women’s Training 3pm

SAT 30 MAY

Men’s Training 1pm | Women’s Training 3pm

anza.org.sg/sports/wombats-afl April 2020 anza

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C R IC K E T

View From the Boundary Interested in the ANZA Cricket Club?

POLLY NORRIS explains how the game works in Singapore and how you can don the whites and join the team.

R

epresenting a microcosm of players from the globe’s cricketing nations, the ICC affiliated Singapore Cricket Association operates six leagues and additional corporate leagues.

ANZA Cricket Club’s three teams – the Bushrangers, the Champs and the Diggers - don the whites each weekend to play 30-over games in Divisions 3 to 6. The club also fields a social side - The Dream Team. They challenge teams comprising members from cricketing nations around the world. ANZA’s diverse teams include members from India, Pakistan, South Africa and Sri Lanka as well as Australians and New Zealanders.

They have even welcomed the odd Pommie!

Each team plays 14 games over the January to October season, with home matches at its Dempsey ground. Training is on Monday evenings from 7-9pm in the nets at the SCC, on the Padang.

The club also arranges tours and social functions, including last year’s end of season awards and wine tasting.

“ANZA is a wonderful club. I play cricket with lovely blokes and enjoy the great banter off the field,” says Ramesh Manikanden, captain of the Bush Rangers. Champs’ captain Drew Norris concurs; “Since coming to Singapore eight years ago some of the best friends I’ve made have been through the club.“ Interested in ANZA CC? Pop down to nets at SCC on a Monday from 7-9pm. More info at anza. org.sg/sports/cricket

The Troubled Scorer

The Season kicked off with three ANZA teams making their debut. Perhaps a few more warm up beers would have helped!

DIVISION 3 Bushrangers 96-10 Batting – nothing! although Sandesh – 27 looked respectable Lost to Cracking Willow 102-4. Bowling – Robin, Rookie and Adil one a piece.

DIVISION 6 Diggers 145-5 Akash 18, Logu 30, Raveen 23, Graeme 60 no Lost to Falcons 200-7 Farid 4-0-13-0, Omar 6-0-20-3 “Sensational”

DIVISION 6 ANZA Champs 10-115 Munib blasted 31 on his return Lost to MUCC 2-185 Shoaib 6-0-17-1

DID YOU KNOW? Cricket was first played in Singapore in 1837 With 103 cricket teams in an area of 721.5km2 Singapore has the highest density of cricket clubs in the world.

Singapore Cricket Club was founded in 1852.

Last year Singapore’s national team made history when it qualified for the ICC T20 World Cup global qualifier, and jumped to 21st in the world rankings.

In 1927 an Australian X1 first visited Singapore In 2020 otters stopped play at ANZA’s Dempsey ground when they took to the field (without cricket whites!).

Wildlife flourishes in cricket’s open spaces.

SCC Youth Development

ANZA CC trains in the nets on the Padang.

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As yet, ANZA doesn’t run a junior team, but Singapore Cricket Club offers a youth development programme for kids aged 5-10. With a variety of sessions running weekends and mid-week the Cubs Cricket environment is “all about fun and enjoyment through our brilliant game of cricket”. The SCC’s Cricket Academy welcomes teens aged 13-16.

Interested? Contact David Bennett at CYD@scccricket.com

April 2020

16/3/2020 4:58:04 PM

POSTPONED

THE INFORMER GUIDE TO WORKING IN SINGAPORE

PART 2

PART 2

FRIDAY 24 APRIL 10.30AM – 12.30PM

HOW TO REGISTER A BUSINESS OR COMPANY IN SINGAPORE & UNDERSTANDING WORK PASSES

AAM Advisory 138 Market Street, #06-01 CapitaGreen, 048946

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ORGANISER

MEMBERS: $25

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EvEryday yoga for EvEryday pEoplE SeaSon 2

SINGAPORE BOTANIC GARDENS, NEAR THE ECO LAKE Monday 6 April to Saturday 6 June (No class on Easter Good Friday)

Monday 8.30am FLOW Tuesday 8.30am YIN/YANG NEW! Wednesday 8.30am EVERYDAY HATHA Thursday 8.30am EVERYDAY HATHA NEW! Friday 8.00am YIN Saturday 8.30am EVERYDAY HATHA 5 Sessions: Members $125, non-members $150 10 Sessions: Members $250, non-members $300

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ANZA CHIX IN BATAM! The ANZA Chix ventured off-island with a big day out to Batam, writes LAURENCE BUELENS.

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fter talking with the growing group of ANZA female cyclists over the last couple of months, plans were put in place for the ladies to venture off island. A trip to Batam was planned so that the group could experience some different conditions and terrain, in a supportive setting.

A group of 18 ANZA Chix and four of ANZA’s “sensible gentlemen cyclists” booked the ferry for our day trip, which offered varying distances on an out-andback route of 80-140km of rolling hills.

Batam is a challenging route, famous for its Barelang bridges (BAtam, REmpang, GaLANG), six bridges that connect three islands. After one year of training, I thought it would be easier than last year.

It wasn’t!

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Waking up early on Saturday morning at 5am in good time to get to the ferry, I discovered it was pouring outside.

Unfortunately, I’d made the wrong decision to cycle to the ferry. No choice... it was time to go! I made it to the ferry terminal at Harbourfront a little bedraggled. At 7.20am, after the usual hassles of the ferry booking system not working, the loading of bikes and the ‘herding of cats’, we finally left Singapore to reach Sekupang 45 minutes later.

From there we split up into two groups: the fast group for the longer ride and the less fast group for the shorter distance. I set off for the long one. We had a support vehicle following us with the essentials, indispensable drinks and bananas.

All smiles, despite the headwinds!

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C YC L I N G

Chix Chat

“What a long ride in tough conditions!

I made it, thanks to all the encouragement and smiles that brought us all to the finish line. Thank you, ANZA for giving us the opportunity to ride together. It’s a pleasure to see the cycling community growing and great to share our passion in such a good environment.” ‒ HELY JARNY

“I would highly recommend this ride if you like hills, heat and wind - as these are in abundance. Or if you need a new challenge after too many kms on the flat in Singapore!

Could be made perfect by a night on the island, a 6am start and an afternoon spa! Avoiding the heat of the day would definitely help to push out a hard hill session without wilting.” ‒ SARAH EALES

“The ride was a tough one against murderous winds, but it was a good opportunity for the ladies of ANZA to ride with each other, some for the first time. Whether we had a personal challenge in mind or a desire to explore somewhere new, we went, we pushed, and we came back with stronger legs and sharper tan lines!”

“It was super challenging because of the lack of shade and heat. I certainly ticked it off my list! The support van was a great asset, and we really needed it.” ‒ ANN YORK

‒ NICOLETTE TAN

“As a relative newcomer to cycling and Singapore, the Batam trip was just what I needed. Everyone was so friendly and supportive, and although the ride was hot, full of headwinds and tough, I felt a real sense of achievement at the end. I met some fabulous fellow women cyclists and won’t hesitate to sign up for future events.”

“I was really encouraged by the overwhelming positivity of the group encouraging each participant to push through and keep going.

One of the greatest challenges in cycling is the mental battle. So, to have a supportive bunch on a long, hot, windy ride was fantastic.” ‒ JJ HANSELL

‒ CLAIRE RUSSELL

The trusty support van

Snacks on the run

We certainly weren’t in Singapore anymore, with wild traffic in the first 20km, countless motorcycles passing in all directions, and people crossing the streets all over the place. Even the colour of the traffic lights didn’t seem to matter.

It was raining but everybody kept going anyway! On the first bridge, the traffic began to ease, and the sun came out to dry the road. Excited kids ran outside and cheered us along the way. Everybody was feeling pretty good, taking turns in a typically well-mannered ANZA way.

The halfway break was well appreciated, particularly as we knew the hard part was still to come.

If we thought we had winds on the first half, we had a full squall on the way back with head winds, cross winds, and gusts. I wondered if a tail wind would

ever arrive to help us a bit. The scariest part was crossing the bridges. We were frantically trying to find the best position to not get smashed by the wind! The last kilometres felt the longest, with some of us facing cramps, sore legs/butt (or all of it) but eventually we made it to the ferry terminal where we met up with the other group of ladies.

The best part of the day was the ferry trip back to Singapore. We had good laughs with our friends, happy to have completed a hard day of training. At 6.30pm, we all headed back home. It’s exciting to see the number of women cyclists in ANZA growing, and how they are getting stronger.

Many thanks to the caring gentlemen who were lucky enough to also be a part of this big Batam day out. Well done everybody!

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NIPPERS

NIPPERS BEACH CLEAN-UP ANZA Singapore Nippers has a special focus on environmental awareness and keeping their beach environment clean and safe.

MACUSHLA LONDEMAN reports on their recent beach clean-up at Julotong Beach, Pulau Ubin and a nature trip to Sisters’ Island.

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ippers and sustainability go hand-in-hand. The beach is our playground and we want to keep it clean for everyone. In our weekly sessions at Palawan, most age groups start with a beach clean-up, to make sure it’s safe for our activities and to leave the environment cleaner than when we started.

In 2019 some of our members participated in a beach clean-up at Julotong Beach, Pulau Ubin, organised by the Conservation Team at Resorts World Sentosa. At most beach clean-ups you expect to be picking up a lot of small items like cigarette butts and plastic straws. This time there were also larger items, like discarded fishing ropes that needed to be cut out with gardening shears.

We also went on some day trips to Sisters’ Island at the end of 2019 with the U6, U7 and U8 age groups, organised by our amazing Events Manager Jaq Molloy. We boarded the ferry at Marina South Pier on Sunday morning for a quick 30 minute trip. It’s pure nature on the island - there are no shops or restaurants, so you need to take enough fresh water and food with you to last the day. Just watch out for monkeys! In a scene reminiscent of Planet of the Apes (except they were long-tailed macaques) we were closely followed at the picnic table area. Everyone took turns to guard the eskies and food supplies, so our primate friends didn’t make off with a snack.

It doesn’t take long to make your way around Big Sisters Island (also known as Pulau Subar Laut), which is a mixture of untamed jungle, calm waters and beaches. It was our goal to keep those beaches and the rest of the island pristine, so we took bags with us to pick up rubbish along the way. This proved to be quite an adventure, with some larger pieces buried deep under the roots of trees or sand. The discovery of an old styrofoam box came in handy to carry the rubbish back to the entrance to put in the bin. Another highlight for the kids was discovering some hermit

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April 2020

Did you know that fishing gear makes up almost 50% of plastic waste in the ocean? crabs on the beach which kept them entertained for hours. The day was a big success, but the sad reality is that more rubbish will wash ashore with the current and each storm. Our Nippers environmental work is never done, and we are planning more beach clean-ups in 2020. anza.org.sg/sports/nippers

GET YOUR DOUBLE SHOT OF ANZA AT OUR TWICE MONTHLY CATCH UPS

CASUAL COFFEE DATE: WEDNESDAY 8 APR, FRIDAY 24 APR KYLIE BARTLEY WHERE: The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf 8138 7684 #01-33C/D The Centrepoint, 176 Orchard Road TIME: From 10am - 12pm WHAT TO EXPECT: Meet new people, share tips about life in Singapore & catch up with friends.

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AN EVENING OF....

Wine Tasting HOSTED BY – PETERSONS WINES POSTPONED

THURSDAY 14 MAY 6.30PM – 8.30PM

$D1rin0ks

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PER PERSON WEDNESDAY 15 April 6.30-9.30pm TABLE RESTAURANT & BAR Naumi Hotel Singapore 41 Seah St, Singapore 188396

JULIE JOHNSON 9025 2430

NON MEMBERS $45 PER PERSON GET YOUR TICKETS FROM ANZA.ORG.SG Price includes canapes, cheeses and cold cuts to accompany the selection of 6 wines that will be showcased

FEATURED

ANZA MEMBER BENEFITS APRIL Here’s a selection of our best offers available this month – exclusively for ANZA members.

FEATURED DI S COU NT

30% DISCOUNT OFF BEST AVAILABLE RATE

LUANG PRABANG VIEW HOTEL 30% discount off Best Available Rate with lux inclusions when booking directly with the hotel.

F E ATU R E D BEN EFI T S HOTEL KOMUNE RESORT & BEACH CLUB, BALI 20% off Best Available Rate when booking directly with the hotel.

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SILA URBAN LIVING, VIETNAM 20% off Best Available Rate when booking directly with the hotel.

SWISS-BELSUITES VICTORIA PARK 20% off website accommodation prices across multiple properties.

12/3/20 12:30 AM

SELECTED

ANZA MEMBER BENEFITS APRIL Some Member Benefits require you to present your ANZA membership card or a booking code.

Please view full terms and conditions before booking at anza.org.sg/perks

SE L E C T ED BEN EFI T S

KAHANDA KANDA, SRI LANKA

HARD ROCK HOTEL BALI

CASA DEL MAR LANGKAWI

15% off Best Available Rate when booking directly with the hotel.

12% off Best Flexible Rates for Deluxe and Deluxe Premium room, based on a minimum stay of three nights. Promo Code “ANZA”.

10% discount on Best Available Rates with daily breakfast and one afternoon tea for two persons, based on a minimum stay of two nights.

ANANTARA KALUTARA RESORT, SRI LANKA

THE LAKEHOUSE CAMERON HIGHLANDS, MALAYSIA

10% off website accommodation prices when booking a minimum two night stay directly with the hotel.

10% off Best Available Rate inclusive of daily breakfast and one complimentary tea and scone, based on a minimum stay of two nights. Promo Code “ANZA”.

IZE SEMINYAK 15% off Best Available Rate when booking directly with the hotel.

OAKWOOD HOTEL & APARTMENTS 15% off Best Available Rate when booking a minimum two night stay directly with the hotel.

ANANTARA ANGKOR RESORT, CAMBODIA 15% off Best Available Rate when booking directly with the hotel.

ANANTARA PEACE HAVEN TANGALLE, SRI LANKA 10% off website accommodation prices when booking a minimum two night stay directly with the hotel.

ALBA WELLNESS VALLEY BY FUSION 10% off website accommodation prices when booking directly with the hotel.

THE BOATHOUSE PHUKET ANANTARA DESARU COAST RESORT & VILLAS, MALAYSIA 15% off Best Available Rate when booking directly with the hotel.

10% off website accommodation prices when booking a minimum two night stay directly with the hotel. Promo Code ANZA.

CASA DEL RIO MELAKA 10% discount on Bed and Breakfast offers, Amor el Rio Package, 3D2N Heritage Walk Package or Family Package. Promo Code “ANZASG”.

To view these offers, go to anza.org.sg/ perks

Interested in offering a discount to ANZA members? Email marketing@anza.org.sg

Member Benefits Apr20.indd 69

12/3/20 12:30 AM

N EW M E M B E R S

NEW MEMBERS

WE ARE DELIGHTED TO WELCOME NEW MEMBERS EVERY MONTH TO THE ANZA COMMUNITY.

Loic Mesle Phitpaphakorn Boonkasem Terri Bishop Michael Daly Linda Johnston Ian Johnston Beth Ann Lim Garett Lim Emily Horsford Philip Horsford Tanya Brock Peter Brock Jennifer Mundorff Todd Mundorff Diana de Beus Viv de Beus Debra Loty Gerard Loty Christo Alexander Li Na Suzanne Carter Phillip Carter Rachel Knight Peter Oliver Nerida Oliver Robert Squires Jonathan Tottman Anna Tran Sunita Dabas Rajive Dabas Karla Robertson Mike Robertson Carst Lindeboom Martine Swart Nika Stracabosko Pasquale Prosperati Lila Frome 70 anza

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Warren Frome Vinay Gupta Manisha Gupta Jooyoung Kang Stephen Kang Caroline Beaumont Scott Beaumont Sarah Boyle Mark van den Berg Nicola Bull Jonathon Bull Arun Thanawala Meeta Misra Ross Lidonnici Nolan Bradbury Fulya Aydin Niels van de Kamp Katie Green Ben Hunter Dale Filipek Kylie Jaszewski Loganathan Muthusamy Rafael Nemet Nejat Leona Brown Karen Suh Inigo Ohlsson Calonje Julieta Aranguiz Bart Piestrzynski Alexandra Maiden John Watts Tanya Watts Michelle Hoevenaars David Hoevenaars Louise Donaldson Marc Donaldson Heidi Bouz

Firas Bouz Robert Pugsley Lisa Begley Don Begley Vanessa Wood Greg Wood David Reynolds Joan Reynolds Chengkiat Tan Rohit Dwivedi Hailey Marie Himor Jason Mosel Chitra Suppiah Christina Tubb Thomas Fontaine Anton John Crace Anthony Allard Molly Karna Cohen Neha Patel Ferish Patel Samuel Lee

Teo Su Seam Craig Cetinich Courtney Miller Cetinich Greg Unsworth John Knott Karen Thornton Anne-Marie Willems Jeremy Campbell Therase Campbell Mike Walker Jenny Mason Jodianne Chapman Andrew Skipper Winson Coe Anthony Loy Anne-Soizic Loy David Hofman Julia Djurdjica Erakovic Sam Lake

ANZA MONTHLY GIVEAWAY

Congratulations to Jason Mosel Winner of this month’s $50 voucher from The Fishwives.

NEW MEMBERS PREMIER PARTNERS

April 2020

12/3/2020 7:26:37 PM

Apr20 Ads.indd 71

10/3/2020 7:48:49 PM

10 MI NUTES W ITH

10 MINUTES WITH...

CHEF ISSAC HENRY

In his mid-twenties, Issac Henry is taking Singapore’s food scene by storm as Chef de Cuisine at STELLAR AT 1-ALTITUDE. Food sustainability is one of his many passions.

How did you become a chef?

I was brought up by a single mum, so I used to stay with my grandparents where cooking was an everyday affair. I helped in the kitchen – rolling doughs, tasting sauces and curries – that’s when I fell in love with food. Over the years, it eventually took over as my career.

What are your thoughts on sustainability and food?

Sustainability is one of the biggest problems facing the world – many of us are consuming meat and fish that are unsustainable, contributing to global warming and a massive decline in fish stocks and species. We must not allow complacency to threaten our food security and continue to investigate innovative, viable growing methods to ensure long-term food sustainability.

What is the future of food?

A sustainable future is still possible, even in Singapore. Some companies are involved in efforts to ensure selfsustainability by supporting local 72 anza

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fisheries and vertical farming. We should be grooming a new generation of urban farmers who can reinforce the stability of our local agricultural industry.

What are your passions?

I have a lot of passions – I’m a trained firefighter, licensed beekeeper, and level two sommelier. I’d love to be a marine biologist and try to save the planet in a different way - looking at how we can save the oceans and re-populate them.

How long have you lived in Singapore?

Almost two years. I grew up in South Africa, lived on the Gold Coast for a

while, as well as Germany, Malaysia and France.

What’s exciting about Singapore food?

It’s so vibrant and multi-cultural, which truly reflects the diversity of our nation.

I also appreciate how food in Singapore is so readily available and affordable.

Favourite breakfast?

I love a big breakfast. In Germany, we would gather around the table and have goat’s cheese, cream cheese, salami mortadella, bacon, sausages, jams, honey and a variety of bread – that’s where I learnt how to make honey!

ISSAC’S FAVES Favourite Singapore restaurant for a special occasion?

Thevar, a semi fine-dining modern Indian restaurant, run by a friend of mine I met when he was working at Meatsmith Little India. His food is amazing – rich authentic Indian flavour.

Date night bar?

28 HongKong Street. It’s a speakeasy bar not too far away from Stellar. I love the vibes and music; and the drinks are quite impressive. stellarrestaurant.sg

April 2020

12/3/2020 10:03:38 AM

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10/3/2020 7:49:36 PM

Apr20 Ads.indd 2

10/3/2020 7:50:59 PM