THE BEST OKTOBERFEST EVER! Happy Snaps and Witty Quips
GREETINGS FROM THE SWISS AMBASSADOR His Excellency Mr Thomas Kupfer
FROM BERNE WITH LOVE
Organization of the Swiss Living Abroad Celebrates its 100th Anniversary
WAFFLES, ANYONE?
Delectable Dining Specials
RELAX N OV E M B E R / D EC E M B E R
2 016
I S S U E
SWISS CLUB
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2
SWISS CLUB
CLUB MANAGEMENT, STAFF AND RESERVATIONS OFFICE
DINING
Carsten Kjeldmann, General Manager E: carsten.kjeldmann@swissclub.org.sg
Adrian Vogt, Executive Chef/F&B Manager E: adrian.vogt@swissclub.org.sg
DID: 6591 9421
DID: 6591 9428
BANQUETS & EVENTS
Serene Yee, Membership Manager E: serene.yee@swissclub.org.sg
Paulina Halim, Event Sales Manager E: paulina.halim@swissclub.org.sg
DID: 6591 9426
DID: 6591 9430
SPORTS & RECREATION
Lydia Zhai, Chief Accountant E: lydia.zhai@swissclub.org.sg DID: 6591 9450
Timothy Felix Rajadurai, Sports Manager E: timothy.rajadurai@swissclub.org.sg
FACILITIES & MAINTENANCE
ADVERTISING & MARKETING
Kumar Samy, Grounds & Housekeeping Manager E: samy.kumar@swissclub.org.sg
Christelle Taillens, Marketing Manager E: christelle.taillens@swissclub.org.sg
DID: 6591 9438
DID: 6591 9455
DID: 6591 9451
ADMIN & HR Joey Chaw, Office Manager E: joey.chaw@swissclub.org.sg / careers@swissclub.org.sg DID: 6591 9422
THE GUESTHOUSE ROOM RESERVATIONS E: theguesthouse@swissclub.org.sg T: 6591 9420 DINING RESERVATIONS E: recept@swissclub.org.sg T: 6591 9420 F: 6591 9452
COMMITTEE
MEMBERS AND RESPONSIBILITIES Gerda Gehrig (RELAX Magazine) E: gerda.gehrig@swissclub.org.sg Daniel Mueller (Sports) E: daniel.mueller@swissclub.org.sg
Martin Silberstein President
E: president@swissclub.org.sg
René Cotting Deputy President
E: deputypres@swissclub.org.sg
Max Schweizer (Buildings & Infrastructure) E: max.schweizer@swissclub.org.sg Adrian Jacklowsky (Marketing) E: adrian.jacklowsky@swissclub.org.sg Felix Kobel E: felix.kobel@swissclub.org.sg
Markus Blattmann Treasurer
E: treasurer@swissclub.org.sg
Patrick Regamey Secretary
E: secretary@swissclub.org.sg
Anantha Ayer E: anantha.ayer@swissclub.org.sg Fritz Horlacher E: fritz.horlacher@swissclub.org.sg
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SWISS CLUB
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
FROM THE EDITOR Dear Members,
GENERAL
3 Club Management, Staff and Reservations 3 Committee 4 From the Editor 5 Your Say 5 A Word from the Committee 7 A Message from the General Manager 8 Season's Greetings from the Swiss Ambassador 10 Welcomes and Farewells 10 Opening Hours
DINING 12
Wine, Dine and Unwind in November & December
EVENTS 14 18
Revellers Rave Pirates of th’ Halloween a Hearrrty Parrrty at the Swiss Club
SPORTS 20 21 22 24 25
Getting Around Getting Round Greatest Hits! Tennis News Feel the Energy! Swiss Club Championships 2016 German-Swiss Golf Club Competition Schedule Spotlight On… Football
INTERESTS 26 From Trash to Treasure... SSiS' Recyling Project 28 Happy 100th Anniversary! Organization of the Swiss Living Abroad Celebrates in Berne 30 Make Yourself at Home at The Guesthouse 32 Meet a Member: Hello, Heide! 33 The Know-all: Q&A for the Culturally Confused 34 First Impressions: We Welcome The Swiss Family Pallmann 34 Meet a Staffer: Singaram Sings the Praises of the Swiss Club 36 Kids’ Space 37 Regular Activities: Fitness, Friends, Fun!
It’s almost ‘the most wonderful time of the year’… again! Hard to believe that Christmas is just around the corner. Then again, it’s hard not to, when the evidence is all around us. The shopping malls are already resplendent with Christmas decorations, which may well make an encore appearance for Chinese New Year in 2017 (after a little nip and a tuck and a few strategic additions). In a week or so after this issue reaches your hands, the annual ‘snow show’ will be in full swing at Tanglin Mall. Orchard Road will be all lit up, and many of you will have booked your trips home for the holidays. Whether you are spending Christmas Day at your ‘new home’ in Singapore or at your old home in your homeland, I hope that you are able to spend some part of the holiday season with your friends at the Swiss Club. As new Members and old Members continually emphasise in the interviews we conduct for this magazine, the Club is synonymous with great friendships. Though I am technically a humble supplier, I for one have met many great people at the Swiss Club. I would go so far as to call them friends. I hope you have a truly wonderful and wonder-filled holiday. If you have children, or children in your lives, it’s hard to be cynical at Christmastime. Just watch a little kid’s face when he or she sees ‘Santa Claus’ (or one of his endless entourage of helpers), or looks up in wonder at the foamy snowfall outside Tanglin Mall… It makes you believe in magic. Have a Magical Christmas and a New Year Bursting with Positivity and Opportunity! Warm regards,
Suzanne Lauridsen Editor, RELAX RELAX is edited and designed by SPEcial Pte Ltd. Suzanne, Copy E: suzy@spe-cial.com
T: (65) 9820 9520
Pam, Liaison
E: pam@spe-cial.com
T: (65) 9871 0666
Edwin, Art
E: edwin@spe-cial.com
T: (65) 8500 2975
swissclub.org.sg MCI (P) No. 047/03/2016
/swissclubsingapore
@swissclubsingapore
@SwissClubSing
SWISS CLUB YOURSAY SAY YOUR
IN PRAISE OF PAULINA AND HER PRO PARTY PLANNERS Dear Paulina, I would like to thank you very much for a successful party we had for Tyler! Your team was very professional and efficient and met our every need and requests for service and props. Very impressed with them. You really do have a good team of people. Please send them my regards and keep up the good work! Best regards, Carol Hall
THUMBS UP FOR A WONDERFUL CORPORATE EVENT Dear Paulina, Firstly, I want to thank you, Kamil and his fellow colleagues for Everything. The cards were exceptionally presentable and exactly what Mr Ayer and I had expected and wanted. Kamil and his team were very professional and made our company’s dinner event such a wonderful experience. They were attentive to our needs, they were well versed with their product knowledge and they went above and beyond to make sure all of us were comfortable and attended to promptly. For example:1) On my table, I was the only lady as the rest are all men. They made it a point to serve me first (a small gesture but a little effort goes a long way...) 2) I requested that all the bottles of still water and sparkling water were to be chilled if placed on the tables. They assured me that all water bottles would be placed in an ice bucket. 3) With all our name placards on the table, they took the liberty to address every guest by name salutation instead of the usual Sir/ Mam. Thank you once again. Please help convey our appreciation to all who were involved and assisted. Thumbs up for a job well done! Alana Kang Avaloq Sourcing Asia Pacific (Singapore) Pte Ltd
AN ODE TO OKTOBERFEST Another great Oktoberfest at the most beautiful family club in Singapore! Many thanks to the organisers and in particular the staff, who worked long hours. You did a great job and I'll certainly be back for the Oktoberfest next year (and of course at our Club in the meantime). Thank you! Manfred Liechti
GOT SOMETHING TO SAY? Email your feedback about the Swiss Club, Club-related matters, living in Singapore or any topic of interest, to editor@swissclub.org.sg. Please include your name and mobile number. We’d love to hear from you.
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SWISS CLUB
A WORD FROM THE COMMITTEE Dear Fellow Members, By the time you read this, our Annual General Meeting (AGM) will already have taken place more than a month ago. On Monday, 26 September 2016, more than 70 Members met to debate important topics for the Club and make decisions regarding its future.
Our Club has an incredible heritage and has probably the most beautiful grounds in Singapore – both of which we aim to protect and preserve.
As you all know, our Club is going through challenging times from a financial perspective: Membership numbers are decreasing and this causes several issues for the Club. On the one hand, fewer Members will result in fewer guests in our restaurants and thus lower Food & Beverage (F&B) income. But it also means fewer subscription fees and entrance fees and thus a less favourable financial situation for the Club overall. The Club’s financial year 2015/2016 ended with a net loss of SGD 378K – included in this figure is a one-off payment for GST of SGD 186K, charges for unpaid GST for the years 2012 to 2015. Even if we exclude this GST payment, the Club’s finances urgently require actions to ensure a solid, sustainable future for the Club. To address this situation, the Committee has implemented a multitude of actions. These include: • a comprehensive marketing plan to attract new members • tight cost controls in our daily operations • improved F&B quality to attract more guests • land sale (by the time this RELAX is printed, we will have hopefully sold the land) The above measures have clearly helped to improve the Club’s financial situation but are not sufficient. As in any situation where an enterprise is making losses, one can either focus on reducing costs or on increasing revenue. The Committee is united in the opinion that dramatically reducing costs would lead to a decline in service and deterioration of the Club’s facilities, and ultimately a less attractive Club will make a financial turnaround even harder. We have seen examples of clubs in Singapore that went down the avenue of tough cost reductions that then led to worsening service and facilities. All these clubs then struggled even more, and we would like to avoid this for the Swiss Club. In view of the above, the Committee decided to propose several changes to the AGM. These include: • an increase in the monthly
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subscription fee by SGD 12.50 per adult Member to be introduced on 1 January 2017 • the implementation of a monthly advanced debit of F&B Credit of SGD 50 per adult member to be introduced on 1 January 2017. The credit will be charged quarterly in advance and must be consumed by end of the Club year. The credit can be used at any F&B outlet as well as for take-away • change of Club rules: deletion of the requirement to have at least 20% of the members to be Swiss Citizens • the demolition of the squash hall to avoid development charges of SGD 836K, in order to free up the required gross floor area (GFA). The squash hall will be demolished sometime next year and we are offering a solution to the squash players in collaboration with the British Club. We will also need to replace the two large awnings with smaller ones to reduce the GFA. All these proposals have been accepted by the AGM. The Committee thanks all Members who attended the AGM for their trust, and we believe that the above decisions will help to improve the Club’s finances. In addition, and provided that we will successfully sell the land, we would like to revamp and refresh the Pergola and the Jungle Bar. Initial design proposals were presented at the AGM but the Committee will continue to develop a more comprehensive concept to make our Club even more attractive. Of course, we will inform our Members about any changes once these plans become more tangible. Our Club has an incredible heritage and has probably the most beautiful grounds in Singapore – both of which we aim to protect and preserve. In the meantime, I wish you all a great end to the year and wonderful holidays. We hope to see you all, even more often, at the Club! Happy New Year and all the best to you and your families. Yours sincerely,
P.Regamey
Patrick Regamey Secretary, Swiss Club secretary@swissclub.org.sg
SWISS CLUB
A MESSAGE FROM THE GENERAL MANAGER Dear Members, Hope you have had a pleasant few months at the Club and have recovered from a hectic September/October schedule. The Oktoberfest, once again, was a fantastic fanfare of fun and splendid memories, made possible only through your support, guests’ attendance and corporate partnerships. A note of thanks also goes to our neighbours for their support and participation, making this event a truly multi-cultural affair with both international and local participants partying side by side. We look forward to welcoming you back next year. One change that hopefully has not gone unnoticed is the new Aveda Hair Salon at the Pavilion, run by Frederic Schaaf and his talented team of stylists. Feedback has been encouraging, despite the project being only partially completed while we await the final approvals from the authorities to open the Spa. Once operational, it will offer a superb wellness area, with gym, hair and spa right here on the Club’s doorstep. If that’s not enough fitness and wellness, look forward to our new bike spinning classes developed by Timothy, our Sports Manager, around the beginning of January. Chef Adrian and his team of chefs have also worked on new concepts by adding a touch of resort wellness into their menus at Pergola. After reviewing feedback from the annual pulse survey, we have aimed to incorporate freshness, lightness and healthy offerings through more salads, snacks and aromatic ingredients. Hence an array of excellent new dishes has been added to the Pergola menu as well as the monthly promotions, since the Thai-inspired menu was a clear favourite among Members. Once again, thank you for the plentiful feedback, which makes us strive to improve our offerings.
Though it is hard to believe, Yuletide is yet again knocking on the door and the countdown for welcoming 2017 is merely two months away. As per last year, the Club will be gearing up with offerings of Christmas menus, take-away, hampers and new year’s celebrations, so watch out for the various promotions coming your way. You may tell the kids and friends that Santa has confirmed a stopover yet again, despite the haze and humid weather, and that Santa and Rudolf are very much looking forward to seeing all the children again and listening to the poems, songs and Christmas wishes. A gentle reminder of the Arbenz dress code – since Members and Members’ guests on occasions arrive inappropriately dressed. Though Yusri and his dedicated team normally find a solution, do call the Club if you are unsure of the standard of dress. A watchful eye is also needed to reign in the little ones at times. Our Club’s cows are part of the Swiss Club, associated with Switzerland and enjoyable play companions, yet some have suffered the sad fate of having their ears broken off. In the event that such a ‘souvenir’ is found, kindly return it to our Guesthouse reception, so we can repair the ‘animals’ accordingly. On that note, it’s important that all boys and girls are on their best behaviour prior to Santa’s arrival. On behalf of the Swiss Club Committee, myself and all my Swiss Club colleagues, may I wish all Members a fantastic two months ahead, a blessed holiday season and a healthy and successful entry into the New Year. See you at the Club! Warmest regards,
A note of thanks also goes to our neighbours for their support and participation, making this event a truly multi-cultural affair with both international and local participants partying side by side. We look forward to welcoming you back next year.
Warmest regards, Carsten Kjeldmann General Manager carsten.kjledmann@swissclub.org.sg
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Season’s Greetings
from the Swiss Ambassador
Dear Members of the Swiss Club in Singapore and Readers of RELAX, As the end of the year 2016 approaches, my spouse Fiorella and I would like to extend our very best wishes to all of you for a successful start to 2017. The year 2016 was a year of many memorable events for Swiss-Singaporean relations, highlighted certainly by the historic first State Visit of Switzerland to Singapore.
Our Swiss Santa Claus will visit more than 100 children at the Swiss Residence accompanied by their parents. This event is traditionally hosted at the Swiss Residence together with the Swiss Association Singapore (SAS). His Excellency Mr Thomas Kupfer
Indeed, the Swiss State Visit to Singapore in July of this year by the President of the Swiss Confederation, Mr. Johann N. SchneiderAmmann, was certainly the most important event of the year on the political SingaporeSwiss agenda. The State Visit strengthened the already close ties between Singapore and Switzerland and underlined the friendship between our two countries. President Schneider-Ammann was received by Singapore President Dr. Tony Tan, followed by meetings with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Deputy Prime Minister Tharman and Minister for Trade and Industry Lim Hng Kiang. Members of the Swiss community had the chance to meet the President at a reception held at the Swiss Club. In June, we also welcomed our newly elected Defense Minister, Federal Councillor Guy Parmelin, to Singapore. He participated in the 2016 Shangri-La Dialogue, the important Asia Security Summit, and also met with Singapore Defense Minister Ng Eng Hen. He also attended a gathering at the Swiss Residence with representatives of the Swiss Community. With three delightful concerts, this year was also a treat for our ears: in March, Swiss Jazz singer Noga enchanted us with her chansons at the Alliance Française.
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In July, the Lucerne Symphony Orchestra’s performance at the Esplanade was highly acclaimed by the audience and the media. Then, in August, the Swiss Military Small Band ended their successful Asia Tour with concerts at the Swiss Club for the National Day celebrations, followed by a performance the next day with the Singapore Army Band at Gardens by the Bay. Swiss films made their mark with the soldout screening of ‘Schellen Ursli’ at the European Union Film Festival in May, and later in early December with the upcoming screening of the award-winning ‘My Life as a Courgette’ at the Singapore International Film Festival. To end the year in a festive mood, our Swiss Santa Claus will visit more than 100 children at the Swiss Residence accompanied by their parents. This event is traditionally hosted at the Swiss Residence together with the Swiss Association Singapore (SAS). 2017 promises to be a special year as it marks 50 years of diplomatic relations between Switzerland and Singapore. In conjunction with this anniversary, the Embassy of Switzerland will host a line-up of celebratory events. We will start by hosting a concert by the Swiss-Singaporean pianist Rahel Senn on 14 January at the Botanic Gardens. I hope to see many of you there with your families and friends! The Embassy looks forward to keeping the Swiss community informed about our upcoming activities and services through our website and Facebook page as well as through our quarterly newsletter – and, of course, through Relax. Best wishes to all of you! Thomas Kupfer Ambassador of Switzerland
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SWISS CLUB
Welcomes The Swiss Club welcomes:
and Farewells
The Swiss Club welcomes back:
Type of Membership
Name
Type of Membership
Ordinary
Klaus Duss & Lisa Tombalakian-Duss
Ordinary
Ordinary
Benedikt Maissen
Ordinary
Jann Federico & Bettina Michaela Fisch
Ordinary / Associate
Kirstin Rehkopf
Associate
August Hatecke & Anja Levermann-Hatecke
Ordinary / Associate
Claudia Maria Spichtig-Keller & Scott Eric Keller
Ordinary / Associate
Adnan & Stefanie Begic
Associate
Federico Burgoni & Valentina Biavati-Burgoni
Associate
Ghislain & Charlotte De Charentenay
Associate
Jan Carlos & Delia Hufnagel
Associate
Damien & Christelle Dhellemmes
Term
Pedro & Maria Teresa Flames
Term
Neil Flatman
Term
Christina Heitkamp
Term
Peggi & Bernd-Georg Artur Herrdum Kate Victoria Kardachi
Name Daniel & Jane Brunner Stefan Rothlin & Cornelia Horat-Rothlin
The Swiss Club farewells: Name
Type of Membership
Christian & Fabienne Schuwey
Ordinary
Florian Contini & Elena Pistorio-Contini
Associate
Matteo Fantacchiotti & Maria Assunta Rosito-Fantacchiotti
Associate
Tim Muehlena
Associate
Diego Parrilla & Gema Santander-Parrilla
Associate
Matthew Pollard & Mary Scott-Pollard
Associate
Term
Xiaodan Predoehl
Associate
Term
Shaun Verner & Pauline Loftus-Hills
Associate
Sean & Eliza Deschamps
Associate Transferable
Michael & Kerstin Karb
Associate Transferable
Nicolette Manson-Engelbrecht & Alexandre Manson
Term
Nicole Mueller
Term
Alan Ryan & Sarah Thackray-Ryan
Term
Todd Korry & Jenny Wilhelm
Term
Christopher Liam Smith & Imelda Lagmay Smith Non-Swiss Nominee
Jamie G Wrightson & Garcia Cristina Alvarez Term
OPENING HOURS OFFICE
RECEPTION AT THE GUESTHOUSE T: 6591 9420 Daily: 10:00 – 20:00
son Festive Sea ours 2016 H n o Operati
DINING OUTLETS ARBENZ Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays T: 6591 9424 Lunch: Wed to Sun, 12:00 – 15:00 Dinner: Wed – Sun, 18:30 – 24:00 (Last orders at 22:00) Dress Code: Smart Casual, except Sundays PERGOLA T: 6591 9431 Sun – Thur: 07:00 – 23:00 Fri & Sat: 07:00 – 24:00 (Last orders at 22:30)
TANDOORI CORNER T: 6591 9431 Lunch: Mon – Fri, 11:00 – 14:30 Dinner: Mon – Fri, 18:00 – 21:30 Sat & Sun: 11:00 – 21:30 (Last order at 21:30) JUNGLE BAR Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays T: 6591 9433 Wed – Fri: 11:30 – 23:30 Sat & Sun: 09:30 – 23:30
SPORTS FACILITIES Daily Tennis Court 07:00 – 22:30 Football Field 07:00 – 22:30* Leisure Pool 07:00 – 22:00 Gym 07:00 – 22:30
ber • 24 Decem all day. Arbenz closed pm es at 18:00 Pergola clos r be • 25 Decem ly. for brunch on Arbenz open l ua us as Pergola open December • 26 & 27 ed all day. os cl z en Arb as usual en op Pergola uary ber & 1 Jan l • 31 Decem open as usua la go er P d Arbenz an
Mon – Fri Lap Pool Sports Hall
For restaurant reservations, please call 6591 9420 between 10:00 – 20:00. After office hours, please call 6591 9431.
06:00 – 22:00 18:00 – 22:00
*Can be booked for exclusive usage
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Weekends, Public and GESS School Holidays Lap Pool 07:00 – 22:00 Sports Hall 07:00 – 22:00**
Outlet opening hours are subject to changes. **Fees apply for usage of Sports Hall. Prior booking is required.
1 1 : 0 0 - 1 6 : 0 0 PAV I L I O N
DINING
Wine, Dine and Unwind in
November and December ‘Tis the season to eat, drink and make merry... which means it’s time to plan and book your festive gatherings at the Swiss Club. After all, your guests probably crave your company more than your cooking (no matter how talented a culinary artist you might be), so why not leave the hard work to Chef Adrian and his hard-working and ever-obliging team in the kitchen? Happy hassle-free Christmas entertaining! AT PERGOLA
Wonderful Waffles and Crêpes What:
A scrumptious selection of waffles and crepes, sweet and savoury, to delight young and old
Waffle with Icing Sugar
$7.90
Waffle with Banana and Nutella
$9.90
Apple Cinnamon Waffle
$9.90
Savoury Waffle with Smoked Salmon and Sour Cream $11.90
When:
Spiced Sweet Potato Tostada Crepes with Roasted Chicken, Lemon
$11.90
Honey Sauce and Arugula Salad
$12.90
Crepes with Berry Sauce and Vanilla Ice Cream
$11.50
Crepes with Spinach, Artichoke and Brie Cheese
$11.90
Ham and Cheese Crepes
$11.90
1 – 30 November 2016
Picture for illustration only
Tartar Spectacular What:
When:
An array of classic and fusion tartar dishes, starring beef, salmon and tuna Beef Tartar with Quail Egg
$22.00
Raw Salmon Tartar with Wasabi Dressing
$19.00
Tuna Tartar with Avocado
$21.00
1 – 31 December 2016 Picture for illustration only
Rösti Nights (every Friday) What:
Golden-brown Rösti with traditional accompaniments
When:
6 – 10pm
How much:
Portion – $16.50 each Buffet – $46.50 per person
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DINING
Raclette Nights (every Wednesday) What:
Authentic Swiss raclette (grilled cheese scraped from the wheel) with traditional accompaniments
When:
6 – 10pm
How much:
Portion – $16.50 each Buffet – $46.50 per person
AT ARBENZ
Executive Set Lunch What:
2-course Executive Lunch
When:
Weekdays, 11am – 3pm
How much:
$26 per person
Picture for illustration only
CLUB-WIDE
Wines of the Month for November and December What:
Tulloch Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2015/2016, Hunter Valley
What:
Tar & Roses Shiraz 2013/2014, Heathcote, Victoria
When:
1 November to 31 December 2016
When:
1 November to 31 December 2016
How much:
$65 per bottle $13 per 125ml glass
How much:
$65 per bottle $13 per 125ml glass
Tasting Notes
Tasting Notes Region:
Hunter Valley, Australia
Region:
Heathcote, Victoria, Australia
Vintage:
2015
Volume:
Vintage:
2013/2014
750ml
Alcohol:
Volume:
750ml
11%
Grape variety:
14.9% to 14.5%
Semillon-Sauvignon Blanc
Alcohol:
Aging potential:
Grape variety:
Shiraz
Drink now through 2018
Aging potential:
Drink now through 2020
10 – 12°C
Serving temperature:
16 – 18°C
Colour:
Deep crimson dark purple
Tasting notes:
Deep crimson dark purple hue, it has intense black cherry aromas coupled with raspberry notes, summer berries, licorice and blackberries with hints of vanilla, chocolate, black pepper and an earthy complexity. It is generously rich in sweet black cherry fruit flavour with a touch of chalky cocoa. The underlying toasty vanillin cedar and peppery finish frame the firm robust structure and well-balanced palate.
Serving temperature: Colour:
Pale straw with a green hue
Tasting notes:
Pale straw with a green hue, the blend combines the world-renowned characteristics of vibrant young Hunter Semillon with lively Sauvignon Blanc. Ripe passionfruit aromas on the nose are balanced by citrus and tropical flavours of Hunter Semillon on the palate.
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EVENTS
s r e l l e v e R Rave
From all reports, this year’s 5-day Oktoberfest from Wednesday 7 September to Sunday 11 September was the best yet. We crashed the party on the loudest, liveliest night of the festival, Saturday night. Here we share some of the quips and quotes we collected from the more ‘coherent’ revellers. That said, let the pictures do most of the talking…
“It’s so close to what we experience at our Mun ich-based h eadquar ters Sensational ... ly Bavarian !” – Dirk Be ven, Austra lian expat, Head o f Strategic P rocuremen Asia-Pacific, t The Linde G roup, at tended w ith a group of colleagues “A lit tle pie ce of home in A sia.” – Michae l Munz, Ge rman expat works at Tr , afigura, at te nded with a group of mixed Euro p ea n a n d Australian expat frien ds
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“I have b een to se veral Ok to Zurich, bu berfests t this is th in Munich e best… even on th and in I c an dan e tables!” c e any whe – Meng re – Guo, frie nd of Swis s Club M e mb er “This is th e b es t pa rt y of the – Craig year in Sin Lygoe, ba gapore!” nker, live attended d in Singap with a gro o re for 5 y up of frie ears, nd s “This is m y first tim e in three more and years. I’ve mo noticed costumes… re people are dre ssing up It ’s really in traditio nice!” – Yumi n al Steele, Sw iss Club m a grou ember, a p of girlfri ttended w e nd s ith
“Singapo re’s greate st part y for every o ne ag e d 35+!” – Martin Silberstein , President, Swiss Clu b
is is ever y moment. Th “I intend to enjoy sic, mu t ea gr joy y to en a great opportunit mpany!” drinks and good co in panese expat, lived – Kaz Hattori, Ja th s, at tended wi a Singapore 16 year group of friends I’ve at tended “It ’s the fir st time e, over whelming!” Ok toberfest. It’s lik l, shing professiona – Riki Zou, publi iend yfr bo an rm Ge r at tending with he “It ’s awesome!” ed 27, ustralian expat, ag – Varun, Indian-A g Algorithmic Tradin
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“ T hi si ama s the firs zing… t tim e St A ndre It ’s almo I’ve bee w’s S n s t as – M good and it ’s a r y M o c ie t y C as t h c e D ili ex p a o e t, at t nald, Sc dh!” o e g ir lf r t n t d i s ed w h ie n d it h a s g ro u p of
I’m “A wonderfully thrilling experience. the in ing shar , here be very privileged to zy!” Oktoberfes t fren and – Tom Katsaros, Australian lawyer in lived ber, Mem Club s Swis new a Singapore for 4 years, attended with group of friends “Wunderbar!” t, – Leonardo Rocha, Brazilian expa d with nde atte .SG, hleo coac founder of ds frien of p a grou “I kissed a girl and I liked it!” – Paula Ahern, HR Manager, Swiss Club Member, lived in d Singapore for 31 years, attende rn Ahe una’ ‘Sha n Shau with husband
“It’s a wonderful event… It’s like being at home!” – Jivanta Schoettli, Members of the Swiss Association, just arrived in Singapore, attended with husband Markus Pauli and daughter Suvarna Paulina Schoettli "Awesome, hot stuff!” – Garima Ren, first time attending “Best pork knuckle ever!” – Ruth Suah, advertising executive, first time attending “Great music, great food, great vibe, positive experience!” – Ian Weerasekera, film-maker, first time attending
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Sentiments on Sunday… It ’s like being er ful event… nd o w a s t’ “I at home!” bers of the hoet tli, Mem – Jivanta Sc arrived in ociation, just sband Swiss Ass nded with hu te at , re o ap Sing er Suvarna i and daught ul Pa s ku ar M et tli Paulina Scho n!” and really fu ng dif ferent years 18 , PR “It’s somethi Singapore s, nu In ew school, – Mat th duated from ra g ly nt ce re old, aomi Huth girlfriend, N h it w ed nd at te
“It ’s great fun for the wh ole family.” – Karsten, German exp at attended with wife and daug hter Lara “Of course it’s less cro wded than in Germany , but the spirit is here.” – Doris Schilieszeit, Ge rman expat, 5M Trading “It was lot s of fun!” – Sandra Peter, stude nt, Swiss Club Member, att ended with a group of girlfriends and their families
lub , Swiss C students r, te !” e it P ra ed nd s “We lov f girlfrie and Chia group o a Abbott a ic h s it s w e J ded – st for rs, atten k tober fe Me mb e O b lu C iss at the Sw forming r e p ” r t! n e e y me m b e b es t “I’ve be or, band is is the h it T is v … s is rs w 17 yea egger, S d the ph Gras ma love – Jose ren! Em d il h c e ll th ay with a family d e th a Stutz e v “Lo aby Emm b d n a !” tutz popcorn Helen S s Stutz, ia b o T –
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Pirates of the Halloween Throw a Hearrrty Parrrty
: WaArticRleNisIwNrittGen in n
Th’ day began wit’ jolly good weather. Th’ Black Pearl dropped anchor at th’ Jungle Bar and Cap’n Jack Sparrow and his crew of rogues ‘n scalliwags greeted the landlubbers at 16:30 hours.
This le-know eak, a litt en Pirate Sp h which is spok glis a e En s f y o lt a rm s , fo y pirates um by scurv ther sc dogs ’n o n seas. ve o’ th’ se
OUR SE IT IN Y DO NOT U S ESSAY . ENGLISH
LET TH’ TREASURE HUNT BEGIN… At 17 hours, th’ wee pirates and their pirates, um parents, rallied to th’ captain’s orders. Obviously the rowdy ringleader had been hittin’ th’ spiced rum bottle, but no matter. The spirits only added to th’ spirit of th’ occasion. Though th’ captain has been known t’ make grown men cry, he was in jolly form ‘n managed to raise a smile or three among the wee’uns. Why, he even got a bear hug from a comely bohemian lass! A gang o’ five pirates guarded th’ treasure stations – namely Silver, Jack, Barbossa, Hook ‘n Kidd. Each scurvy captain challenged th’ treasure-hunters thus… 18
Captain Kidd challenged the wee’uns to’ find th’ hidden words, unscramble th’ letters and get some gold in return. Captain Barbossa loomed over five black boxes wit’ hidden treasures, or so it seemed. How good ’re your senses? Can you guess th’ item? He rewarded th’ successful wit’ some beautiful gold coins. Captain Hook lost his hand wit’ scissors (or so he claimed). Scissors, paper, ‘n stone were th’ weapons on offer. A
heavy battle unfolded, wit’ th’ winners rewarded in gold. Captain Jack hid in th’ barrel. The wee’uns poked th’ barrl wit their swords ‘n made ‘im jump out o’ it. Jumpin’ Jack was terrifyin’! Captain Silver drew out (haharr) th’ artist in young pirates an’ asked ‘em to draw the words he whispered to ‘em. Their parents ‘n siblings guessed the wee Picassos’ subject matter ‘n th’ artist was rewarded.
SPLENDID RAGS ‘N BRITCHES ‘N A HEARRRTY FEAST Th’ landlubbers donned their glad rags. Barrels ‘n treasure chests were everywhere t’ be seen. An ogre, a unicorn ‘n a bonnie mermaid came to th’ shindig, and a gang o’ scurvy part-time pirates joined in th’ revelry. Th’ pirates’ feast was a splendid affair. Raw meat on a skull, pukin’ guacamole out o’ a beautifully carved pumpkin, firin’ red chick curry ‘n a mountain o’ sausages fed th’ famished landlubbers. The fittin’ finale was th’ desserts, complete wit’ popin’ eye candies, ol’ bones from Johnny ‘n gummy brains ‘n fingers! CLOSE SHAVES ‘N ULTIMATE VICTORS ‘Twas a night o’ close shaves ‘n tiebreakers, for both treasure-hunters ‘n best-dressed. Boy, ‘twas a tough call. Captain Sparrow had a loopy eye for some good lookin’ fellas and struggled t’ choose th’ best o’ th’ best. Like a true pirate, he declared all o’ th’ participants winners in his eyes, but there could only be one winner…
A POKE ‘N A PROD… AND OFF TO TH’ LAND O’ NOD Of course, pirates never end an evening without a good hit on a piñata. Th’ treasure chest was finally found amongst trees, hung up high ‘n’ dry above ground. Strong young pirates queued in turn to try an’ bring th’ chest down… Shiver me timbers – that barrel was a tough ‘un! After many tries in vain, our certified engineering pirates poked ‘n prodded the chest to spew out its spoils for all to grab. The night slowly died off towards the 20:30 with some heavy-eyed ‘n well-fed pirates, bohemians, princesses, unicorns, ogre ‘n sailors drifting off to th’ land o’ nod… As th’ parrrty wound down, th’ crew of the Black Pearl and her Captain set sail for a new adventure. Till next year… Thank ye one ‘n all for a fantastic ghoul-filled Halloween. Article courtesy of Christelle Taillens and photos courtesy of Gary Neo
Th’ runner-up family – a trio o’ young ‘n bonnie vampire witches followed an eager Ogre an’ his family… And th’ winner was… ta-da… the D.I.Y. barrel ‘n treasure chest family! 19
SPORTS
Getting Around
Getting Round
Yes, round is a shape – but it’s not a healthy one. Our Sports Manager, Timothy Felix, shares first-hand advice on how to get back into a healthy, desirable shape when you’ve let your fitness and diet regime slip. PERSISTENCE PAYS OFF Every day, many people ask me for all sorts of advice when it comes to getting into shape. I always find it inspiring to see how willing people are to get back into shape regardless of how long it takes. The inevitable setbacks and the sometimes delayed successes of attaining specific goals – such as weight loss, running for timing, strengthbuilding and so on, can be frustrating. However the key to successfully attaining goals is to push through the peaks and troughs and simply keep going. BEWARE OF ONLINE ‘EXPERTS’ There are many different ‘experts’ you can find online. They preach about the various ways to lose weight, through adaptive training and catchy slogans such as ‘6 weeks to abs’… the list goes on. To view getting into shape as the end game is like saying you’re going to have your favourite meal at your favourite restaurant and you’re never going to eat again. We all know you need to eat to survive. If you want to feel good and look good as well, you need to integrate a good amount of sports and conditioning exercises into your lifestyle. It really helps to build this habit from a young age. Motivating yourself and your loved ones to regularly spend a healthy length of time in the gym and pool, and/ or on the field and courts, will inculcate the habit of being active. Good health almost always follows.
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WORKING OUT TOGETHER WORKS OUT WELL Here are some activities you can do together with your child or spouse. • • • • • •
Band sprints Wheelbarrow Wheelbarrow with Push Ups Over and Under High Low Twist and Pass Lateral Lunge with Throw
MIND OVER MOUTH Finally, as the heavy-duty feasting period will be about to commence when this issue reaches your hands, do be mindful of what you put in your mouth. Indulge only in your very favourite foods, in moderation. And remember, they are
likely to make an encore appearance over the holiday season. You don’t have to eat everything in one sitting! That said, if self-control fails you, there is always the gym and the ongoing programme of sociable and enjoyable sporting activities at the Swiss Club. See you in shape (more or less) next year. INTERESTED IN PERSONAL TRAINING OR JOINING A SPORTS ACTIVITY? For more information or to register, please contact: Timothy Felix, Sports Manager, Swiss Club E: timothy.rajadurai@swissclub.org.sg
SPORTS
SPORTS
Greatest Hits!
Tennis News Despite the cancellation of the junior tournament #3 and the Welcome Back Social due to haze in late August, the action on the courts ramped up after the Oktoberfest. What a great way to detox and run off that beer belly! YOUNG AND SMASHING! The Junior Tennis Program restarted midAugust and has been almost full since September. It’s definitely a great ways for the kids to make new friends, learn tennis and have some fun after school. We also held October tennis camps. At the time of writing, the first week is already full and soon the second one will be too. Thanks to all the Swiss Club kids for playing with us! TEAMS IN TRAINING A lot of Swiss Club teams are hitting courts all around Singapore. But ladies first… Two teams are playing their Wits league, one in D division and one in C division. They are doing very well, with both teams currently ranked number 2. A few more wins and they can maybe move up to the highest division! Thanks to Captains Laura and Gabriela for making this possible. Go girls, go! This season we had one team for Men playing in the B division. Though they fought hard, they didn’t reach the semifinal. A lot of matches had been lost 2/1... Bad luck guys and let's try again next time! Special thanks to the legendary Captain Rudi, who's been trying to build a team every weekend despite the obstacles of Oktoberfest and the F1 Grand Prix! We have four junior teams playing
in the JTTL league – two in the 14 & Under category, one in the 12 & Under category, and one in the 10 & Under category. Two teams are undefeated and the other two still have a chance to reach the next round. More information and results will be published in the next issue of this magazine. Go kids – the Swiss Club is proud of you! NEW KIDS ON THE COURT A new tennis team is born… Welcome and good luck to the Swiss School tennis team. You're doing well for your first time in the competition! For the men, the ladder tournament is ongoing and very popular. Apologies to the guys on the waiting list. Your patience will pay off. PLAY ON, PLAY UP! Christmas is coming, so let’s get into shape now in preparation for the peak season of indulgence… Play now, so you can play up later!
SAVE THE DATES Join in our upcoming tennis events, and don't forget to follow your sports newsletter to register online and have some fun on the courts. 11 – 13 November.............. Junior Tournament #4 25 – 27 November.............. Tennis Swiss Club Double Championship December.............................. Family Day (exact date to be confirmed) Article and photos courtesy of Pierre Capdeville 21
SPORTS
Feel the Energy! Swiss Club Championships 2016
The Swiss Club Championships took place bright and early on the sunny Sunday morning of 2 October, commencing at 9am sharp. Weather was on our side, and more than 100 swimmers young and ‘older’ competed in 70 swimming events. EVERY SWIMMER A WINNER As Aquaducks coaches continually emphasise, everyone who did their very best was a winner. However, as with all sporting events, there must be official winners. The top medal winners were: Kijanna Jaeger
8 & Under Girls
5 gold medals
Jakob Gerber
10 & Under Boys
5 gold medals
Lennard Jaeger
12 & Under Boys
5 gold medals
Lilly Spahr
14 & Under Girls
5 gold medals
Felix Schoppe
Open Men’s
5 gold medals
In Praise of Swimming…
“It’s my therapy. It calms me, it makes my day, it makes me feel invincible!” – Felix Schoppe, aged 18, gold medallist in all five of his events (he wakes up at 5.30am to train five times a week!)
Each of the above came first in all five of their events! AMAZING RACES, LIT-UP FACES Despite the blazing sun, the energy was infectious. Parents and onlookers put their heart and soul into supporting the swimmers, and thunderous applause followed the completion of every event. The day saw great shows of sportsmanship, with some close calls graciously accepted by second place-getters. Overall, the glorious day drove home the message that sports are a wonderful way to unite all age groups and nationalities. As everyone present would confirm, it was a fantastic day!
“My advice to the other swimmers – just don’t give up!”
"Wake up with a positive attitude and with great energy."
– Gabriel Guillet, aged 8, first place-getter in the 25-metre Butterfly, 8 & Under Boys
– Coach Chantal
INTERESTED IN JOINING AQUADUCKS? Please contact Rahah Kastermans: E: rahah@aquaducks.com.sg 22
SPORTS TEE FOR TRIVIA Late American president and avid golfer Woodrow Wilson was so dedicated to the game that he even played in the snow – using black golf balls!
German-Swiss Golf Club
COMPETITION SCHEDULE NOVEMBER 2016 MEDAL ROUND Date Tee-off commences Venue Format Registration by
Saturday 12 November 2016 12.30pm The Legend Golf & Country Resort, Kulai, Johor Stableford 7 November 2016
YEAR END TOURNAMENT Date Tee-off commences Venue
INTERESTED IN PLAYING GOLF? If you would like to join our golfing group, or take part in one of the competitions, please contact: M: 9754 1907 T: 6465 5250 E: dieter.gumpert@gmail.com
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Format Registration by
Sunday 4 December 2016 12.30pm Palm Villa Golf & Country Club IOI + Putra Courses Stableford 28 November 2016
JANUARY 2017 MEDAL ROUND & GOLD MEDAL 2016 Date Tee-off commences Venue Format Registration by
Saturday 21 January 2017 12.30pm Horizon Hills Golf & Country Club, Nusajaya, Johor Stableford 16 January 2017
SPORTS
SPOTLIGHT ON...
Football
Youth football has been offered at the Swiss Club since 2008. We spoke to Olliver Marx of Cosmo United Football Academy, the football convenor at the Club, about the multitude of benefits to be enjoyed from playing the beautiful game.
JOYS OF FOOTBALL “Football teaches social and emotional skills as well as teamwork, hand-eye and foot-eye coordination as well as agility. It increases the attention span of children, their concentration and ability to follow instructions,” said Olliver.
times per week in various locations in Singapore. CUFA is the CCA provider for St. Joseph’s Institution. It currently has 14 teams, which play competitively in three different leagues as well as local and regional tournaments throughout the year.
Olliver added that above all these practical and measurable benefits, introducing children to football can ignite a passion and lifelong love for sport. It’s a healthy habit to establish from a young age, as Timothy, our Sports Manager, will wholeheartedly confirm.
If you would like your kids to get their kicks in a healthy way (without an electronic device!), consider signing them up for training with Olliver and the gang from CUFA.
ABOUT THE ACADEMY The Cosmo United Football Academy (CUFA) was established in 2005 and now has 400 trainees who train up to three
FOOTBALL AT A GLANCE
WHEN
Saturdays from 9am – 10.30am
WHERE
The football pitch behind the tennis courts
WHO
Children and youth aged below 16 years old
WHAT
Psychomotor skills and football skills training in a fun, stress-free environment
ARE YOUR CHILDREN INTERESTED IN FOOTBALL? Please email the Sports Manager, Timothy Felix, at timothy.rajadurai@swissclub.org.sg or contact the Cosmo United Football Academy at: M: 9821 3869 E: olliver@cufa.com.sg
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NEWS FROM THE
INTEREST
Trash to Treasure…
From SSiS’ Recycling Project
Over the past few weeks, the students at SSiS have been busily turning trash into treasure. Tasked with creating new products from recyclable items that were deemed rubbish, they came up with some great innovative ideas. INSPIRATION… IMAGINATION… INVENTION! The inspiration behind this project was the old adage ‘One person’s trash is another’s treasure’. It enables students to learn about different methods of recycling, and encourages them to use their creativity to think about how they can repurpose items that might normally be thrown in the trash. A SNEAK PEEK Projects took shape in many forms throughout the last month. Here is a sneak peek at what classes were doing: Primary 1A transformed ‘Trash to treasure’ by creating individual art pieces and inventive products out of trash. They include: wallets made out of used tetra packs, picture frames, a Japanese children's game (kendama), a fairytale/narrative box made out of a used shoe box, and other creative ideas. Meanwhile, Primary 1B creatively applied the project brief to produce an impressive piece of installation art depicting their most important treasure: dreams, wishes and thoughts, encapsulated in the brain. They built a 26
big head out of trash and filled it with a lot of handcrafted items to represent their dreams and memories. In Primary 2, students created hats in different sizes and shapes out of old newspaper, following a quick introduction to hats during which they collected different styles for different uses – such as a fireman’s helmet, a policeman’s cap, a cowboy hat and so on. Primary 3 students designed puppets from recyclable items and then took it a step further to create puppet plays and stories starring their handcrafted creations! In upper elementary, the Primary 4 students put a fun spin on things by designing their own exciting games from reused items. The Primary 5 class started by researching about the professions associated with the recycling industry, and also studied the processes of recycling and their environmental impacts to date.
The inspiration behind this project was the old adage ‘One person’s trash is another’s treasure’. Finally, in Primary 6, students undertook two different types of recyclable projects, where one half fashioned functional robots from recycled items and the other half resourcefully recycled used paper to make new handmade sheets of paper. SHOW US! Both the students and teachers have been hard at work putting the finishing touches on the projects. We are sure that everyone will enjoy the brilliant products that have been devised. As always, this first project will culminate in a primary-wide exhibition where the creations will be on full display for all to enjoy. Hope to see you there! Article courtesy of James Nolan Photos courtesy of SSiS
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INTEREST
Happy100th Anniversary! Organization of the Swiss Living Abroad Celebrates in Berne From 5 to 7 August 2016, the 100th anniversary of the Organization of the Swiss Living Abroad was celebrated in Berne. It was a very well-attended event and every participant enjoyed it despite the rain on Friday.
A PRESTIGIOUS VENUE We started the Congress with the summer session of the Council of the Swiss Abroad and had the honour of holding the session in the Federal Palace on the ‘Bundesplatz’. On the square itself there was a stage and a few tents for the actual celebrations, in which the general public could also take part. The main topics of the morning were the ‘Swiss Revue’. We were told again that we need to save on costs (since printing and mailing is expensive) and should encourage everyone to change from the printed version to the app so that we can maintain six issues a year. Then we listened to a panel discussion about e-voting, a topic of vital importance to Swiss abroad. Unfortunately nobody could give us exact dates of implementation. 28
A WET BUT WARM WELCOME FOR THE WAYFARERS We had a longer than usual lunch break outdoors on the square, where we welcomed the four teams of youngsters who had crossed Switzerland during the last two weeks. They had starting in four different corners of our country and reached Berne that very morning in pouring rain. They remained on stage and listened to the speeches of our
Historians, economists, and other experts brought their unique perspectives to the main theme ‘Switzerland – part of the world’.
Swiss Minister for Foreign Affairs Didier Burkhalter and our President Remo Gysin. COUNCIL MATTERS In the afternoon, we passed through the tight security again and resumed the meeting. The main topic was the upcoming elections in 2017 for our council. By next summer, many delegates will no longer be part of the council. Under the new law, council members have to be resident in the country they represent. (In earlier times, someone who had returned to Switzerland from overseas could keep their seat if they still maintained close contact with their former country of residence.) The board presented a few recommendations for the next elections, which will take place between 16 November 2016 and 17 May 2017. These were discussed extensively.
INTEREST
AN ENCHANTED EVENING We tried to finish on time in order to listen to the Swiss Jazz orchestra outside the building, as well as some more speeches from the authorities of our host city Berne and the canton of Berne. Drinks were served outside, and there were many stalls to browse. The longest line was in front of ASO/OSE’s stand where our former director R. Wyder signed his book about the history of our organisation. Together with the public, we were then treated to two free concerts – first by Anna Rossinelli and her band and then by William White. The next morning, we could choose to join guided tours of the Federal Palace or the media centre. In the afternoon, the Congress took place in the Casino
building and we listened to various lectures. Historians, economists, and other experts brought their unique perspectives to the main theme ‘Switzerland – part of the world’. The anniversary dinner took place in the same beautiful building. On Sunday, four coaches drove us to the ‘Ballenberg’ museum were we walked around in the sunshine and enjoyed a lunch with traditional Swiss entertainment. LOOKING FORWARD In spring the delegates meet again on 25 March 2017, and the Congress takes place next year in Basel from 18 to 20 August 2017. Article and photos courtesy of Sabine Silberstein
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In-Room Amenities • Free WiFi
• Hair dryer • In-room safe • Small fridge • Mini bar • Flat screen TV • 1 King bed (Suite) • 2 Single beds (Deluxe room)
Make Yourself at Home at
The Guesthouse When your home cannot accommodate extra guests, when clients and overseas colleagues visit Singapore, when your home is undergoing renovations… look no further than The Guesthouse, the private boutique hotel-like accommodation at the Swiss Club. A HOME AWAY FROM HOME Many newcomers to the Club are surprised to see that we have our own little ‘hotel’ within the Swiss Club grounds. Far more exclusive than a public hotel, it may only be booked by Swiss Club Members. However, Members are welcome to book rooms on behalf of their guests.
Several Members use The Guesthouse as an extension of their own home when guests outnumber beds. Others have used it to accommodate wedding guests from overseas, or small delegations of conference-goers. For business or pleasure, The Guesthouse is the epitome of understated elegance and luxurious comfort.
HEAR WHAT GUESTS SAY ABOUT THE GUESTHOUSE… Our stay at the Guesthouse in March was like being in a home away from home. We had a comfortable stay, and appreciate the care and attention that we received from all members of the staff. Thank you. Bruno Rossi and Norizah Rossi (Absent Member) After leaving Singapore three years ago, we greatly enjoyed our return. The Guesthouse is the perfect place to be! Anna, Toni and Sophie Van Ijzendoorbn (Absent Member) Peaceful and quiet accommodation with very friendly and helpful staff. I enjoyed my stay very much. Peter Thomé (Guest of the German European School in Singapore)
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Check-in/Check-out Information • Room booking must be made by Swiss Club Members only. • The Guesthouse provides non-smoking accommodation in all rooms. • Official Check-in time: After 14:00/ Check-out time: By 12:00. Late check-out/early check-in charges apply. • The room rate is on a per room per night basis; includes GST and à la carte Continental Breakfast. • Confirmed room reservations not cancelled 48 hours before arrival will incur a retention charge equivalent to one night’s room rate. • Guests are requested to settle their bills directly at the reception before check-out unless prior arrangements have been made in writing. • 10% Service Charge will be added unless paid through an active Swiss Club membership account. • A Membership Fee of $10 per person per day will be charged to all guests (above 6 years of age) who are not Members of the Swiss Club. • Extra bed will be charged at $70 per room per night; a baby cot can be arranged at no extra cost. INTERESTED IN STAYING AT THE GUESTHOUSE? E: theguesthouse@swissclub.org.sg For more information, please approach the Reception at the Guesthouse.
INTEREST MEET A MEMBER NO COMPLAINTS, ONLY COMPLIMENTS After viewing a few Clubs shortly after arriving in Singapore, the Swiss Club had Heide at ‘Hello!’ Besides the obvious appeal of the stunning natural setting, it was the friendliness and genuine warmth of the staff that won Heide’s heart. The cynics among us might doubt the above statement, but honestly, Heide has nothing but praise for the staff at the Club. “The staff are fantastic – open, friendly and helpful. And that comes from the bottom of my heart,” said Heide. “Frankly there’s never been a situation where I’ve had to complain.” A GO-TO VENUE FOR DINING AND SOCIALISING Though Heide and her husband Georg live just down the road, and enjoy the luxury of a pool and large garden at their doorstep, they still frequent the Swiss Club. “The Arbenz is amazing. We dine there at least twice a week,” said Heide. “My husband loves the Indian food, and my son always orders Zurich Geschnetzeltes.” Heide recounted how the staff know the preferences of their regulars so well that as soon as they lay eyes on her son they recite his order before he can say – “Zurich Geschnetzeltes, with no mushrooms and lots of meat!”
Hello, Heide! Everybody at the Swiss Club loves Heide, and Heide loves everybody at the Swiss Club. No kidding. We had the pleasure of meeting a lady who embodies positivity – a Member of nearly seven years, Heide Greilinger. SEVEN YEARS IN SINGAPORE AND COUNTING… Heide found herself in Singapore after a snap decision to move from her native Germany, or barely see her husband, whose shipping business was growing rapidly and taking him to this part of the world with increasing frequency. Initially the plan was to stay for two years, but seven years later she’s still here in Singapore and loving it. Heide has two grownup daughters, Josefine and Johanna, aged 20 and 21, studying in Germany, and a 12-year-old son, Johann, who lives in Singapore and studies at the German School. Her husband Georg travels frequently for 32
The staff are fantastic – open, friendly and helpful. And that comes from the bottom of my heart. Heide business. During his absences, Heide is grateful for the company of her handsome son, and steps out from time to time on a ‘date’ with just her son.
Heide also appreciates the social benefits of Membership. “I met my best friend here at the Club,” she recalled. It may be her best friend, but it certainly isn’t her only one. (When we were arranging this interview, all the staff sang her praises.)
I met my best friend here at the Club. Heide Heide’s son Johann regards the Club as an extension of his school. He meets all his schoolmates here, and plays tennis, padel and soccer. EVERY DAY A GOOD HAIR DAY! On the day we met Heide, we couldn’t stop admiring her short sassy haircut. She shared that she had just been to Aveda Salon at the Swiss Club, to rectify a disastrous trip to a local salon that shall remain nameless. “Frederic did a great job. And I enjoyed the salon environment – it’s very open and well-ventilated,” said Heide. Say hi to Heide when next you bump into her at the Club.
INTEREST
We Welcome
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
The Swiss Family Pallmann The Vice-Principal of the Swiss School, Marcus Pallmann, his wife Rachel stayed at The Guesthouse for ten days after their arrival. It was love at first visit.
You can turn around 360 degrees and it’s always green! Rachel
AUTOMATIC SERIES OF EVENTS Marcus explained that joining the Swiss Club was a natural consequence of his job, since both the Swiss School and the Swiss Club make up two out of the five pillars of the Swiss community in Singapore. Furthermore, the family had such a great time at The Guesthouse, playing tennis and padel amid the lush green grounds, that joining was an easy decision. EASY DECISION, EASY TRANSITION “Staying at The Guesthouse was a huge advantage for the children when they went to school, as they were already familiar with the environment,” said Marcus.
Rachel loves the resort-like feel of the Club. “You can turn around 360 degrees and it’s always green!” exclaimed Rachel. Rachel also values the pleasant and private community for parents, which provides a platform for exchanging news and views about homes old and new, including travel tips and education-related information. She also appreciates the open spaces, playground and pool areas for her children. THE PALLMANNS’ PICKS We asked each family member what he or she likes most about the Swiss Club. Here's what each had to say.
Singaram Sings
Maria, aged 8 Favourite features – flying fox and diving board Favourite foods – pizza, salad, pain au chocolat, orange juice Marius, aged 7 Favourite features – football field and tennis ECA with coaches Pierre and Ash Favourite foods – pizza, cheese naan, fries Klara, aged 4 Favourite features – pool and playground Marcus Favourite features – proximity to work Favourite ‘food’ – Tiger beer! Rachel Favourite features – pool and friendly staff Favourite food – all the salads To the Pallmann family, thank you. We’re so happy you picked the Swiss Club!
MEET A STAFFER
the Praises of the Swiss Club
Singaram, a Housekeeping Attendant at the Swiss Club for the past four years, wakes up at 3am and travels all the way from Skudai, Malaysia, for the job he loves.
VALUED RELATIONSHIPS As a Housekeeping Attendant, Singaram is responsible for the cleaning and maintenance of The Guesthouse. Before that, he filled a similar role at Marche in VivoCity, but prefers his current job by far. In particular, he truly values his relationships with both colleagues and Members.
I am very happy to stay here, and have no intention to change jobs. Singaram 34
“Everyone has a smile on their face,” said Singaram. He singled out Joey from Human Resources as one colleague who is consistently helpful. According to Singaram, she is very responsible and takes immediate action whenever he lodges a request. WORK-LIFE BALANCE The father of two sons and a daughter aged from three to eleven years old, Singaram is grateful for the work-life balance his job allows. He works the morning shift, and knocks off between 4pm and 6pm. It means he can be home within 40 minutes, traffic permitting, to see his children before their bedtime. During his two days off a week, he loves to spend time with his family and catch up on household chores.
Singaram praises the benefits of working at the Swiss Club, especially the staff meal he tucks into every day. When asked for recommendations, he heaped compliments upon the tom yum and the butter chicken. FUTURE PLANS Singaram hopes to stay with the Swiss Club for as long as possible. “I am very happy to stay here, and have no intention to change jobs,” said Singaram. And we, in turn, are very happy to have you, Singaram.
INTEREST
We’ve Got Every Event Covered
SebSat Pte Ltd has been supplying tents to discerning customers throughout Asia for more than 20 years. We are immensely proud to have accommodated the Swiss Club Oktoberfest for 16 consecutive years.
For enquiries, please contact Carsten: ceo_sebsat@yahoo.com
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INTEREST KIDS’ SPACE
Home for the holidays? Or bored on a long-distance plane trip? Get busy with these fun activities…
The A-mazing Cow-deer! We gave our resident Swiss Club cows a festive touch and came up with the wonderful creature – the cow-deer! Help Santa find his way through the cow-deer to deliver gifts to the house full of nice children. Once you’ve found a way, draw your route with a coloured pen or pencil.
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CHRISTMAS Tongue Twisters Try saying these phrases 10 times fast! Santa’s sleigh slips swiftly through the snow. Christelle craves Christmas cookies and candy canes. Tiny Tim trims the tall tree with tinsel. 36
CONGRATS CATERINA! Well done, Caterina Zucchet. You’ve won a Swiss Club cap and Glue CD for submitting the first-drawn completed and correct entry in our Kids’ Space lucky draw for September/October.
JOLLY HOLIDAY WORD HUNT Find and circle the following twenty words related to Oktoberfest. Enjoy the family-friendly activities of this annual ‘beery good’ party – but leave the beer drinking to the mums and dads!
CAROL CHRISTMAS SANTA GIFTS GOODWILL ELF ANGEL EGGNOG TREE
YULE SLEIGH CAKE STOCKING REINDEER MASS STAR CRIB HAM
WANT TO ENTER OUR LUCKY DRAW? Complete this page, provide your name, membership number, age, phone number and email address, and hand it to the reception at the Guesthouse. You could be the lucky one to win a mystery prize every issue! Entries close 1 Dec 2016.
Name Membership No. Age Email
Daytime Tel No.
INTEREST
Fitness, Friends, Fun!
PROGRAMME OF ACTIVITIES IN NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER Join in our regular activities and form binding friendships as you keep fit. We have something for all interests, ages and levels of fitness. SOCCER FAMILY SOCIAL SOCCER Sun 15:00 – 16:30 (Soccer Field) Sun 16:30 – 18:00 (Soccer Field)
TENNIS MEN’S SOCIAL Tue 19:00 – 22:00 (Courts 2 & 3) 21:00 – 22:00 (Court 4)
SWIMMING AQUADUCKS E: swiss@aquaducks.com.sg M: 9487 5183
SOCIAL SOCCER Mon 20:00 – 22:00 (Soccer Field)
Sat 15:00 – 18:00 (Courts 2, 3 & 4)
PARENT AND CHILD 30 mins sessions
Please register with Urs Lichtenberger (E: ulichtenberger@bluewin.ch) and Thomas Koechli (E: thomas-za.koechli@ubs.com) to get on the mailing list. An email is sent to Swiss Club members every Friday to get players registered for soccer on Monday. GERMAN TEAM SOCCER PRACTICE Tue 20:15 – 22:00 (Soccer Field) Rino Binder E: info@gas-sg.com (German All Stars) SWISS TEAM SOCCER PRACTICE Wed 20:00 – 22:00 (Soccer Field) League games on Saturdays
Sports Manager: Timothy Felix E: timothy.rajadurai@swissclub.org.sg LADIES’ CLINICS Mon & Tue 09:00 – 11:00
PRESCHOOL LTS 30 mins sessions
Mon: Court 1 – Open to all members Court 4 & 5 – WITS/LTS teams only
Mon – Fri 15:30 – 17:00 (Leisure Pool) Sat 10:00 – 12:00 (Lap Pool)
Tue: Courts 4 & 5 – WITS/LTS teams only Fri 08:00 – 10:00 Courts 4 & 5 – Open to all members, registration with 40XV is required
Heinz Braegger E: heinz.braegger@sc.com
Court 4 & 5: • Parent/child and tiny tots programme • Junior introductory/development programme • Junior intermediate/advance programme
Captain: Thomas Kaegi E: thomas-za.kaegi@ubs.com
For times and dates, please see the 40XV display at the tennis courts.
SOCCER TRAINING FOR KIDS Training on Saturday 09:00 – 10:30 U5/U6/U8 (Sports Field) Cosmo United Football Academy
FORTY-FIFTEEN (40XV) Tennis Director: Pierre Capdeville E: pierre@forty-fifteen.com
Coach: Urs Brutsch E: urs.brutsch@hpwm.sg
Olliver Marx E: info@cufa.com.sg W: www.cufa.com.sg M: 9821 3896
Mon – Fri 15:30 – 16:00 (Leisure Pool)
LEARN TO SWIM 30 mins sessions Mon – Fri 15:30 – 17:00 (Leisure Pool) Sat 10:00 – 12:00 (Lap Pool) COMPETITION & DEVELOPMENT CD1 & CD2 Mon – Fri 17:00 – 18:00 CD2 & CD3 Mon – Fri 18:00 – 19:00 CD2, CD3 & CD4 Sat 09:00 – 10:00 CD1 Sat 10:00 – 11:00 ADULTS' TRAINING Fri 08:30 – 09:30 (Leisure Pool)
Please check the tennis noticeboard for courts allocation for coaching and social tennis.
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INTEREST
AEROBICS BODY TONING Tue & Fri 08:30 – 09:30 (Aerobics Studio) STEP AND TONING Wed 18:00 – 19:00 (Aerobics Studio) Please contact Andrea Holzmann-Zaouchi at E: holzmann.a@hotmail.com or T: 9835 4674 for more details. AQUA BIKING Wed 19:00 – 19:45 Sat 09:00 – 09:45, 10:00 – 10:45 Please contact the Sports Manager, Timothy Felix at E: timothy.rajadurai@swissclub.org.sg Pre-registration of 24 hours is required for this class. BADMINTON Thu 20:00 – 22:00 (Sports Hall) Please contact Martin Goerg at E: badminton@swissclub.org.sg for more details. BIKE RIDES ON SUNDAYS Please check Newsletter for more details. BOOT CAMP Mon 18:00 – 18:45 (Soccer Field) (Note: During rain, Boot Camp will be held at the gym.) Thu 08:00 – 08:45 (Outside Gym) Please contact the Sports Manager, Timothy Felix at E: timothy.rajadurai@swissclub.org.sg
GOLF German-Swiss Golf Club
SKAT Wed 20:00 – 23:00 (Jungle Bar)
Please contact Dieter Gumpert at E: dieter.gumpert@gmail.com for more details or refer to page 24.
Please contact Hubert Nerlich at E: hubertnerlich@gmail.com or T: 6734 0034 for more details.
JASS Six rounds per year, usually a Friday night.
SQUASH Please contact Rhamanan at E: rhamanan51@yahoo.com or T: 9146 6824 for more details.
Please contact Aileen Aschwanden at E: jass@swissclub.org.sg for more details. KARATE FOR KIDS Aerobics Studio Thu 16:00 – 16:45 (Mini-Ninjas, 4 - 6 years) 17:00 – 18:00 (Little Dragons, over 6 years) Please contact the instructor, Sensei Peter Robertson, at E: zendoka@yahoo.com or T: 9837 8637 for more details.
VOLLEYBALL Wed 20:00 – 22:00 (Sports Hall) Please contact Steffen Koch at E: s.n.koch1@web.de for more details. YOGA HATHA YOGA Sat 09:00 – 10:00 (Pavilion) Please contact Nadja Pizzo at E: pizzonadja@gmail.com or T: 9145 4408 for more details.
MAHJONG Mon 19:30 – 22:30 (Rifle Lounge)
YIN YOGA Mon 08:30 – 09:30 (Pavilion)
Please contact Jill Boschung at E: jillbos@yahoo.com or T: 9022 4605 for more details.
Please contact Laurence Chehab-Fabry at E: info.letsyoga@gmail.com or T: 9170 8218 for more details.
PERSONAL TRAINING Please contact Timothy Felix at E: getactive@activefitness.com.sg, by appointment only. PILATES Wed 08:30 – 09:30 (Aerobics Studio) Please contact Christabel Lim at E: christabel_lyh@hotmail.com or T: 9619 5820. Note: Pre-registration is required for this class. GOT A SUGGESTION? If you would like to suggest a new activity, please contact our Sports Manager, Timothy Felix Rajadurai, at timothy.rajadurai@swissclub.org.sg.
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INTEREST
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