SMP Newsletter #3 by iremembersg

Issue 03 (ISSN 2382-5774)

e-newsletter 2014

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The Singapore Memory Project Issue 03

Contents

02 10 for Keeps, Memories to Cherish

05 40 Books That Amused, Gripped, Thrilled & Enlightened You: Revisited & Redesigned

11 Singapore Memory Project Instructional Videos

The Singapore Memory Project Issue 03

10 FOR KEEPS, MEMORIES TO CHERISH

03 Collaboration with Alexandra Health

07 irememberBookstores: Contest & Giveaways

04 “Books That Moved Me” Exhibitions

09 irememberSG Fund Memory Projects

he Singapore Memory Project (SMP) is a nationwide initiative launched by the National Library Board in 2011 to collect and document the personal memories and stories of individual Singaporeans, as well as organisations, associations, companies and schools. Now in its third year, the SMP has come a long way since its fledgling days and has amassed more than a million memories and stories so far. In the form of written text, audio files, video files or images, some of these memories will tug at your heartstrings while others will tickle your funny bone. Laugh out loud or shed a tear or two as you rejoice and reminisce with the memory makers over poignant stories of their childhood and of days that hark back to a much simpler life. But most importantly, these memories and stories are documented and preserved for posterity for future generations of Singaporeans.

e live out new memories with the passing of each day. Most are fleeting, while some remain close to our hearts. These memories anchor our lives. More importantly, they are for keeps, for us to cherish and reminisce about those happy moments in the past. Instead of letting these memories fade away, the Singapore Memory Project (SMP) invited members of the public to celebrate the important milestones in their lives and preserve their 10 most precious memories at a recent campaign held at the National Library Building.

All rights reserved. ©National Library Board, Singapore, 2014. The views of writers and contributors do not reflect the views of the Publisher. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means without prior written permission from the Publisher and copyright owner(s).

The main objective of the campaign was to get the public to think of their 10 most precious memories and document these memories for posterity, with the help of the SMP Memory Kit, a step-by-step guide to documenting memories. Famous personalities such as Anthony Chen, Najip Ali and Kumar were also invited to share their 10 most precious memories and important keepsakes. These memories and keepsakes, along with selected ones submitted by the public, were displayed at the Memory Showcase held at the lobby of the National Library Building from 11 April to 25 May 2014. Kumar and Najip Ali attended the launch event held on 11 April and shared their memories of Singapore to a well turned out and receptive audience.

Whilst reasonable care is taken by the Publisher to ensure the accuracy of the information in this publication, the Publisher accepts no legal liabilities whatsoever for the contents of this publication. ISSN 2382-5774 National Library Board, Singapore 100 Victoria Street, #14-01 National Library Building, Singapore 188064 Tel: +65 6332 3255 Email: ref@library.nlb.gov.sg

Upcoming Programmes

Published by: National Library Board, Singapore Designed by: Orgnix Creatives Pte Ltd

This is a press ad featuring the memories of Najip Ali. The three press ads – the other two featured the memories of Anthony Chen and Kumar – were published in both English and vernacular papers to reach out to all Singaporeans.

To encourage the public to submit their memories, a contest was held in which people who submitted the most meaningful memories won a SMP Instax Memory Kit each.

In this issue of the e-newsletter, we look back at some of the events that had taken place this year such as the “10 for Keeps, Memories to Cherish” showcase, as well as our encounters with five members of the pioneer generation through our partnership with the Alexandra Health System. Do make time to visit the “Books That Moved Me” exhibitions held at the National Library Building and be reunited with the books you once read as a child. Also, stand to win attractive book vouchers by participating in the “irememberBookstores” contest. Read on for more details. As we celebrate Singapore’s golden jubilee in 2015, there is no better time to start contributing your memories to the SMP. Check out our portal at www. singaporememory.sg. Wan Wee Pin

Car decal giveaway with Class 95FM deejays Mike Kasem and Jean Danker. SMP Instax Memory Kits were given out to encourage the public to become memory makers.

Guests at the Memory Showcase launch on 11 April.

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The Singapore Memory Project Issue 03

COLLABORATION WITH ALEXANDRA HEALTH

rom March to April this year, the Singapore Memory Project (SMP) partnered with the Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, Alexandra Health, through its Outpatient Geriatric Department in an effort to collect the memories of senior citizens. Through the collaboration, the SMP documented the memories of five selected seniors who were either patients of the clinic at the time or caregivers of dementia-risk patients. The collaboration enabled the SMP to preserve the valuable memories of the hospital’s patients and their caregivers. The interviewees, who are in their 80s and 90s, comprised professionals, including two retired architects, a former teacher, a retired engineer and a retired police officer. These seniors, having lived through the period of the Japanese Occupation and preindependence Singapore, have a treasure trove of stories to share with us. The interviews with the seniors were conducted by the SMP’s very own Memory Corps (MCs): Lily Bok, Renee Ho, Quek Geok Cheng, Chin Siat Mui and Lim Soo Lan. From the interview with Mr Tan Soo Ren, MC Lily Bok unearthed valuable nuggets of information on Mr Tan’s architectural contributions to Singapore, including his

memories of designing his family home at Cuscaden Road. MC Renee Ho’s encounter with Mdm Ng Kam Ying took her down memory lane, tracing the historical developments of the teaching industry and profession in Singapore. Meanwhile, MC Quek Geok Cheng’s video interview with Mr Tan Kia Seow, a retired engineer, took her on an exhilarating journey exploring his contributions to the development of Jurong Shipyard. For MC Chin Siat Mui, who was also one of the caregivers at the clinic, the interview enabled her to meet Mr Richard Liong and discover his dedication towards the architectural profession, as well as his contributions to the building of the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce building that still stands on Hill Street today. The building was officially opened by then Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew on 20 September 1964. MC Lim Soo Lan’s interview with Mr Poh Kay Swee was equally significant as he provided invaluable insights into his investigative work as a detective at the Special Services Branch. Mr Poh was one of the police officers involved in investigating the Maria Hertogh riots, the Hock Lee bus riots and the Chinese student riots that erupted in Singapore in the 1950s. You can read more about these stories at www. singaporememory.sg/partners/128/featured.

The Singapore Memory Project Issue 03

“BOOKS THAT MOVED ME” EXHIBITIONS

he Singapore Memory Project (SMP) is presenting two exhibitions in conjunction with the Read! Festival this year. Based on the theme “Books That Moved Me”, the SMP hopes that these exhibitions will trigger your memories of the joys and pleasures of reading and books. Come on down to the National Library and check them out!

Be reunited with the books that moved you, once upon a time.

40 Books that Amused, Gripped, Thrilled & Enlightened You: Revisited & Redesigned 20 June to 31 August 2014 Level 1, Lobby, National Library Building This exhibition features 40 reinterpretations of book covers, ranging from local titles to international bestsellers and literary classics. A collaboration between the SMP and KULT, artists from Singapore and overseas present their take on book covers well- loved by the public, such as the works of Enid Blyton, William Shakespeare and Catherine Lim. These artworks, accompanied by memories from readers, are showcased in an SMRT train and at the lobby of the National Library Building. Look out for the book covers in the SMRT train.

Some reinterpreted book covers..

Be reunited with the books that moved you, once upon a time 20 June to 31 August 2014 Central Public Library The SMP embarked on a journey to reunite old books with old friends, and the result was a happy reunion between bibliophiles and popular books of yesteryears and recent times. Contribute your memories of reading and your favourite books at the exhibition to receive an attractive bookmark. For more information on these exhibitions, check out www.iremember.sg, the companion blog to the SMP portal.

Behind the scenes at the video interview with Mr Tan Kia Seow.

Mr Tan Soo Ren with a replica model of his family home at Cuscaden Road.

Mr Tan Soo Ren’s family home at Cuscaden Road and the many happy memories it held for his family.

MC Quek Geok Cheng interviewing Mr Tan Kia Seow on his contributions to the development of Jurong Shipyard.

Check out the reinterpretations of 40 book covers, ranging from local titles to international bestsellers and literary classics.

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The Singapore Memory Project Issue 03

40 BOOKS THAT AMUSED, GRIPPED, THRILLED & ENLIGHTENED YOU: REVISITED & REDESIGNED Here’s a selection of book covers and memories featured in the exhibition. Check out these redesigned covers at the exhibition till 31 August 2014.

Famous Five series Enid Blyton

Nancy Drew series Carolyn Keene

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Roald Dahl

…I fell into the company of the Famous Five. I felt I was the invisible sixth member alongside Julian, Dick, George, Anne and Timmy. Every book was an adventure that took me far away from the confines of life in Singapore. I experienced the endless summers in Cornwall, ran away to the circus and entered moors without leaving my room with the Five. Even till today, I dream of such escapades. Serene Lim

With Nancy being quick-witted and sharper at solving mysteries, she became a heroine of mine and even to this day, I attribute these qualities I think I have from reading the Nancy Drew series. I must have read dozens of these mystery books… often staying up late into the night. My mum used to threaten to throw these books out of the window if I didn’t go to sleep! Michele Anne Minjoot

A book that especially moved me when I was a child was Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl. At the time, my family wasn’t very well-off and the story inspired me in a way that as long as you are a man of character, lady luck will shine on you someday somehow… Lee Jun Jie

Little Ironies: Stories of Singapore Catherine Lim

Pride and Prejudice Jane Austen

The Adventures of Tintin Georges Remi

When this book appeared there was a palpable buzz. Readers were excited to read a book which was slim, eminently readable, highly enjoyable and yet one which brought home some definite truths. Catherine’s sheer ability to combine strong social critique with a delightful read was very wellreceived. Prof Anne Brewster from Australia and I actually did a small book of analysis at the invitation of the publisher when Little Ironies was adopted as a text book. As I recall this was the first time a Singaporean book had been the sole subject of literary criticism… Kirpal Singh

Pride and Prejudice is one of my alltime favourite books, but my love affair with it didn’t start the first time I read it. I was made to read the book for school at the grand old age of 12, and of course it went completely over my head. It wasn’t until I read it again a few years later that a lightning bolt went off – Pride and Prejudice is a comedy! That terribly serious cover and extremely small type were trying to fool me. Sure enough, I laughed out loud at Lizzie and Darcy’s romantic fumblings, was suitably enraged at Wickham, and of course imagined myself as mistress of Pemberley. I still read it every year, and love the fact that 12-year-old me turned the same pages wondering what on earth was so great about the line: “It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.” Cassandra Lewis

I first started reading Tintin comics when I was in Primary 3. A classmate of mine was reading it during ‘Silent Reading’ class. Out of curiosity, I borrowed it from him and after that, there was no turning back. In order to read more of Tintin, I had to go to the school library to borrow the books. When that avenue didn’t help, I went to Bedok Library. I would purposely take a longer bus route so that I could drop by the library to check if there were any Tintin books. It was a very ‘hot’ book then and getting another title of Tintin wasn’t easy. My first Tintin book was The Black Island. What captivated me was Tintin’s determination to get the crooks (over mountain and sea). I was amused by the Thompson twins (because of their clumsiness) and by Snowy’s huge fear of spiders. And finally, each story always ends in ‘good triumphs over evil’. Alvin Koh

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The Singapore Memory Project Issue 03

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The Singapore Memory Project Issue 03

IREMEMBERBOOKSTORES: CONTEST & GIVEAWAYS Bookstores are where my imagination takes flight, what about you?

hat are some of your escapades in our local bookstores? Whether you are a patron, a staff member, a vendor or simply someone who loves hanging out at bookstores, we want to hear all about your memorable moments and experiences! Participate in the “irememberBookstores” contest by sharing your memories with us via the SMP portal by email, post or fax! This contest will run for 10 months starting from 21 March 2014. The closing date falls on the 20th of each month. Three winners will be selected monthly to win attractive book vouchers!

Take a trip down memory lane with members of the public who have contributed the following: It was the 1960s and I was a secondary school student then. My father had a shop at Seah Street and my grandfather had his at Liang Seah Street. Whenever I visited them at their shops, which was quite often during the school holidays, I would check out the bookstores along North Bridge Road and Bras Basah Road. Reading has always been my favourite pastime. At the time, the Bras Basah Complex was not even built yet. My favourite bookstore had no name as far as I can remember. At the time, there was a Red House Bakery situated at the corner of Victoria Street and Bras Basah Road. The bookstore I am referring to was located beside Red House Bakery facing Bras Basah Road. The proprietor was an Indian gentleman. He was friendly, with a ready

smile for anyone who visited his store. Moreover, as one can imagine, the store was very open and, therefore, very accessible. It was stocked largely with paperbacks, comics, magazines, and newspapers, probably some candies too. I enjoyed going there to browse and check out the latest arrivals. Needless to say, I spent quite a bit of my pocket money there as well. My only regret today is that I do not have a picture of the bookstore. In those days, cameras were hard to come by. I certainly did not own one then, not even my family. Otherwise, I would have taken a picture of the bookstore.

1980–2013. The passage of development in the ‘City of Books’ mirrors my growth from an awkward teenager to a middle-aged married man with two kids. Along its many corridors and paths held and still holds the scent and promise of a ‘miracle in-between the pages’. In the 80s, as an awkward teenager, I visited Chinese bookstores, still in my junior college uniform, looking for martial arts magazines. I wanted to be an accomplished martial artist. In the 90s, as a young adult and as a university undergraduate about to step out into the working world, I visited Popular and second hand bookstores to stock up

ary 1990s. Ever y Sunday when I was in prim to the go d woul I and sister ts, paren my ol, scho the s acros t Queenstow n Public Libra ry. Righ True . shop Book Big was road from the libra ry to its name, Big Book shop was indeed very big and sold almost every thing a book shop s shou ld, from stationery to the ubiquitou ing head l recal I nts. stude assessment book s for was I time each on secti nery for the statio rs to there, in hope of finding some cute erase shop book the As . add to my grow ing collection was h whic e, Driv aret was located along Marg not becoming very quiet in the nineties, it was the that rise surp no as came It all. at ded crow I was book shop eventually closed down when in rema ver, howe , does It in secondary school. went I shop book st bigge the as ory in my mem to as a child! Leong Mei Ling Melisa

on self-help books such as How to Speak Well and How to Manage Your Time. In the 21st century, the beloved Bras Basah Complex is still the place I go to for all my essential needs, from dining at the wonderful food court, to having a haircut, and of course, satisfying my continuing love affair with the written word. To continue with this tradition I have adopted, I take my kids to Bras Basah Complex as well. Hopefully, they will be infected with the same feverish passion I have for books in general and for the complex in particular. Amos Wu

Yong Siak Street – a qua int area in Tiong Bahru surrounded by constructio n sites and housing flats. Yet a gem sits in it so quietly, so patiently, waiting to be discover ed. My favourite bookstore is cram med and simple, humble and peacefu l, and filled with shelves after shelves of books and secrets. A bookstore doesn’t have to be gran d or stuffed with bestsellers. It just has to hav e books. Books Actually at 9 Yong Siak Stre et carries books by loca l authors – names you’ve never hea rd of, but authors who write as beautifu lly as big names like John Green and Mitch Albom. That is why it’s my favourite bookstore because it doesn’t boa st and because it shows me loca l works – a uniquely Singaporean experience. Chloe Wu Xua n

Mok Kong Chua Kenneth

A collaboration between:

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The Singapore Memory Project Issue 03

IREMEMBERSG FUND MEMORY PROJECTS

n February this year, 40 teams were awarded the irememberSG Fund to kickstart their own memory projects. Since then, it has been a busy time for the teams as they begin their research and the hunt for potential interviewees, venues, stories and more! The irememberSG Fund provided up to $50,000 for each project in support of creative initiatives that included short films, photo exhibitions, publications, websites and interactive digital media content such as digital games and animation. The fund accepted proposals for projects that fostered community ties, cultivated a sense of belonging to Singapore or promoted the continued preservation of Singapore stories. All the awarded projects will be showcased as part of the celebrations to commemorate the nation’s golden jubilee in 2015.

IgnorLAND of its Time Drama Box has successfully concluded its series of performance tours and activities in Bukit Ho Swee as part of IgnorLAND of its Time. IgnorLAND is a sitespecific project that aims to excavate shared memories of a place, and bring unknown or forgotten stories to the people. This project looks at the social bonds and community relationships in Bukit Ho Swee, which have stayed strong despite the constant cycle of tearing down and rebuilding of physical places. In this two-hour performance tour, audiences were led by an elderly tour guide (played by Fanny Kee) through

blocks of flats and rows of shops during which she fervently narrates snippets of Bukit Ho Swee’s past and present. The pit stops were varied and included the neighbourhood market and food centre, a void deck and even empty spaces where activities used to thrive. The memories of these places were brought to life by the tour guide’s vivid anecdotes of Bukit Ho Swee’s glorious past and re-enactments by actress Tan Wan Sze. Another highlight of the performance was the entertaining segments put up by three Bukit Ho Swee residents, who gamely took part to share their memories of the estate and its development over the years. In one of the segments, we hear the story of Tay Ah Chuan, 75, a survivor of the Bukit Ho Swee fire. He founded the Beo Crescent Market Hawkers Association and is the “big brother” to his fellow hawkers. Alison Koh, the current chairperson of the hawkers association, shared her story of moving to Bukit Ho Swee after her marriage and offered heartwarming accounts of how she adapted to life in the neighbourhood. Cobbler Yap Ah Leck, who operates from a void deck, happily regaled the audience with tales of his customers while at the same time espousing the spirit of serving the community. These segments aimed to pay tribute to the pioneering generation of Bukit Ho Swee residents who had contributed to the estate in their little ways. Jean Tay, the playwright of this performance tour, aptly sums it up when she said that “it was the combination of the stellar performance by the cast and the heartfelt sincerity from the community performers that allowed this performance tour to present a ground-up narrative that is both multifaceted and genuine”.

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Singapore Unsung Heroes This is a social project that aims to create a movement of kindness through the creation of content on the unsung heroes of Singapore – everyday heroes contributing to the community through their acts of kindness. The team has unveiled 3 out of the 5 unsung heroes for the project, one of whom is Fion Phua who does house visits at selected neighbourhoods to find out the needs of lower income Singaporeans, and follows up on help without hesitation. Another unsung hero is Oh Siew May – author, entrepreneur and mountaineer – who defied the odds by successfully climbing Mount Kinabalu, one of the highest mountains in Southeast Asia, in 2005. Siew May suffers from degenerative cerebral palsy, a condition that affects her speech and movement. In 2006, Siew May released her biography, Scaling Walls, and donated part of the sales proceeds to the Spastic Association of Singapore. The team will be putting together an exhibition of these heroes in August so keep a lookout for it!

Tay Ah Chuan sharing his story about the founding of Beo Crescent Market Hawkers Association.

A fan shirt during the Malaysia Cup days in the early 1990s. (Photo courtesy of Mr Akbar Hashim)

Or how getting your hands on the tickets to the Malaysia Cup gave you an adrenaline rush? A ticket to the semifinals of the 1994 Malaysia Cup, the year Singapore withdrew from the Malaysia Cup before entering the competition again in 2012 as the Lions XII. (Photo courtesy of Mr Mohsein Sani)

These children were left alone to fend for themselves. Fion bought food for the children and took care of them.

Hear Kallang Roar: Remembering National Stadium “Hear Kallang Roar” is a public callout to collect photographs, ticket stubs and other mementoes of the old National Stadium belonging to members of the public. The old stadium was where the distinctive “Kallang Roar” was born – the collective noise that was heard from the cheers, chants and stamping of feet when as much as 70,000 packed the stadium during the Malaysia Cup days.

Setting off to explore the rich memories of Bukit Ho Swee!

Remember how some fans wore this shirt as a show of support?

The project team has been busy collecting memorabilia from the public in preparation for the “Hear Kallang Roar: Remembering National Stadium” exhibition to be held in the new Singapore Sports Museum. In this exhibition, visitors will be transported back to the glory days of Singapore football and the “Kallang Roar”.

These items and more, including those related to various national day parades, can be viewed at the “Hear Kallang Roar” exhibition. The project team has also set up a platform on Facebook for members of the public to submit photographs of their memorabilia. The combined efforts of the project team and the public will enable fellow fans to relive those glory days of the old National Stadium. Beautiful memories of the stadium can also be passed down to the younger generations, especially those who have absolutely no idea how important the old National Stadium was to fellow Singaporeans!

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SINGAPORE MEMORY PROJECT INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEOS

UPCOMING PROGRAMMES

We have produced two new step-by-step instructional videos to help you conduct interviews and document your memories.

Singapore Memory Project – Memory Maker Series at the Programme Zone, Jurong Regional Library.

n “Be a Memory Maker: How to Conduct an Interview”, audience will get tips and learn basic techniques on the art of conducting interviews, turning ordinary conversations into opportunities to capture Singapore’s history. The video follows a boy who wanted to find out about his grandmother’s past only to discover that she was once crowned the “Dancing Queen” in her younger days.

The videos will be made available on YouTube via our iremembersg Youtube channel in mid July.

In “Be a Memory Maker: Penning Life Stories”, we trace the life story of a Singaporean father as he shares his life experiences with his children, including his memories of his first crush. Light-hearted but educational, the two videos are available in English, Mandarin, Tamil and Malay. Each video comes complete with audio narration and subtitles in the respective languages.

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RE A screen capture from the Tamil version of “Be a Memory Maker: How to Conduct an Interview.”

Food Memories: Malay Village (马来村) Saturday, 23 August, 10.30 am–12.30 pm

欢迎您和我们一起向烹饪导师郑仲珊女士学习烹煮传统马来椰浆饭和乌打。当天与我们分享您对马来料理的回忆, 就可免费获得雄鸡标的产品。最扣人心弦的回忆也将有机会赢得一份雄鸡标的礼包。在家试煮这两道菜肴之后，您可以把所烹煮的椰浆饭和乌打照片上载到Instagram，再以主题标签＃sgmemory 和＃sgheritagemeals就有机会赢取雄鸡标礼盒！您可登入图书馆网站 www.nlb.gov.sg/ golibrary 报名，或在各图书馆的电子服务站 (library e-kiosks) 报名. Join culinary instructor Madam Tay Tong San as she demonstrates how to cook local Malay fare such as nasi lemak and otak otak. Submit your memories of Malay food during the programme and receive a free Ayam

The Magic Hour – Inspirations From My Childhood Saturday, 27 September, 11 am–12 pm In “Be a Memory Maker: Penning Life Stories”, the audience get tips on how to begin writing memories based on life experiences.

Memory Kit: Your Guide to Capturing Personal Memories is a DIY guidebook providing suggestions on how you can document your memories. It is available on www.iremember.sg, the companion blog to the SMP portal.

A screen capture from the Malay version of “Be a Memory Maker: Penning Life Stories.”

BrandTM product. The best memory also stands to win a Ayam BrandTM goodie bag. What’s more? Recreate the dishes at home and post

“Five Fingered Mountain”, a painting in watercolour by Marcus Lim. (Courtesy of Mr Marcus Lim)

Culinary instructor Mdm Tay Tong San.

on Instagram with hashtags #sgmemory and #sgheritagemeals to stand a chance to win an Ayam BrandTM heritage gift box! Register at library e-kiosks or at www.nlb.gov.sg/golibrary. (This programme is conducted in Mandarin)

Marcus Lim is Asia’s first and only historian painter devoted to helping families and organisations document their history through art. In 2008, Marcus’ life and work were featured in a TV documentary, and in 2010, he became the first Singapore representative at an international portrait conference held in Washington, D.C. Join Marcus for an hour of nostalgia reminiscing about five-foot ways and the old streets of Singapore. Relive the good old days as Marcus takes us down the memory lane of his childhood through Courtesy of Mr Marcus Lim. his latest series of watercolor paintings aptly titled “The Magic Hour”.