Date: Saturday, 19 November 2022, 7pm Venue: Jubilee Garden Restaurant, SAFRA Toa Payoh
On 19th November 2022, the Genealogy Society of Singapore celebrated its 10th anniversary, marking an important milestone of accomplishments in promoting the writing of family history in Singapore. The event was held with a first-ever gala dinner on 19 November 2022 at the Jubilee Garden Restaurant in SAFRA, Toa Payoh.
The Guest of Honour, the renowned Chinese-Singaporean historian, Prof Wang Gungwu, graced the occasion. Other distinguished guests included representatives from local community organizations and government agencies. The occasion was a great opportunity for members to connect with one another and share their experiences and insights into genealogy research.
The 200 and more diners were treated to a video presentation of congratulatory messages from different ethnic communities and a summary of activities hosted by the GSS over the years. The night’s programme included a group acapella rendition of songs and music performances. The highlight was an auction with funds to be used for GSS’s publications. Auction items included Bernard Chiang’s paintings and wood carvings from houses in Putien collected by our President during his visit in 2016. To cap off the event, GSS Management Committee members, together with Mr Ng, Mr Daniel Teo and Prof Wang blew off the candles on a 6 kg cake donated by Percival Shepherdson!
Founded in 2012, Genealogy Society Singapore has been conducting a range of activities to promote genealogy research and education. These include lectures, workshops, and field trips, with the aim of helping individuals and families in Singapore to trace their ancestry and record their family history. Members are also encouraged to share their findings through book publications. This not only benefits their current or future family members but also contributes to the collective understanding of Singapore’s history and heritage.
In his speech, the President of the Society, Mr Ng, recalled that in 2019, the society published the book by Cyprian Lim entitled ‘My Maternal Roots- A Story of Family, Faith and Freedom’ in support of SG Bicentennial. Another book by Bernard Chiang entitled ‘The Chiang Family History – A Tale of Three Cultures and Kampong Chia Keng’ was launched in October 2022, in support of Celebrating SG Families.
These family history books were published under the Society’s Publication Scheme. A third book on twelve family histories of Singaporeans is scheduled for a joint publication in 2023 by GSS and Goh Loo Club. It will feature the family histories of an Arab, a Eurasian, two Indians, a Malay (Bugis), a Peranakan and Chinese. It will be the first multi-ethnic genealogy book to be published by the GSS, with the help of a small grant from the NHB.
Mr Ng Yew Kang also enumerated the partnerships forged with the National Library Board (NLB) and Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre (SCCC) to conduct joint projects and activities. “We have also collaborated with The Peranakan Association, The Eurasian Association, the Goh Loo Club and other civic organisations,” said Mr Ng.
The Dinner celebration is a fitting testament to the Society’s resolve to provide the support and resources necessary for genealogy research and to encourage Singaporeans to discover, write and share their family histories.
Speech by Ng Yew Kang, President, Genealogy Society Singapore at the Society’s 10th Anniversary Dinner on Saturday, 19 November 2022 ay 7.00 pm at Jubilee Garden Restaurant, 293 Lorong 6 Toa Payoh #03-01, SAFRA Toa Payoh, Singapore 319387
Prof Wang Gungwu, Adviser, Genealogy Society Singapore, Mr Low Sze Wee, CEO, Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre. Our strategic partner, Prof Lee So Ann, Emeritus Professor, NUS, Mr Phua Kiah Mia, Chairman, The Singapore Hainan Hwee Kuan, Mr Tan Kia Kok, Chairman, Hainan Tan Clan Association, Mr Gan Tiong Kang, Chairman, Gan Clan Singapore, Mr Tan Kah Moh, Vice Chairman, Kim Mui Hoey Kuan, Mr Chua Seng Chong, Chairman, Tan Kah Kee Foundation, Mr Goh Boon Chong, General Secretary, Nanyang Khek Community Guild, Mr Wang Chou Chou, Head, Youth Section, Singapore Lam Ann Association, Mr , Board member, Chang Clan General Association, Assistant Director, Chinese Heritage Centre, Members and friends of Genealogy Society, Ladies and Gentlemen,
A very Good Evening to you! Thank you for making time to join us in our 10th Anniversary Dinner. This is the biggest gathering we have ever organised in our 10 years of existence. Your support is greatly appreciated.
Ten years ago, a few like-minded persons met and lamented that as Singapore progresses from an under-developed country to be in the First World league in a few decades, Singaporeans have lost some valuable part of our personal makeup. As we enjoy the fruit of development, we have lost the knowledge of our roots, our family history. Many people have little knowledge of where their ancestors came from, why do they come and what did they do for a living. They are too busy in study or work that they have not thought about these issues. Most of our forefathers also did not record or tell their off-springs of their origin and life and times. Some families may have in their possession the family genealogy book, known as zupu (族谱). These books provide detailed record of the origin of the surnames, and the lineage over hundreds or even a few thousand years. They are written in classical or semi-classical Chinese and seldom tell stories of persons and events. They just record names, relationships, dates of birth and death, burial sites, which make difficult and dry reading. Many Singapore families threw these valuable books away when the earlier generations passed on.
We felt that something should be done to reverse this situation to prevent Singapore becomes a rootless society. They formed the Genealogy Society with the objective to arouse interests in, and assist Singaporeans to research their family history, and to record or publish them for the benefits of family members and enrich the social history of Singapore.
We forged partnership with National Library Board and jointly conducted public talks, workshops and appeal for donation of family history books to enrich the family history collection in NLB when the families which own them do not want to keep them. We also established partnership with Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre (SCCC)to reach out to our arts practitioners and cultural bodies. SCCC supported the Family History Writing Competition in 2015 with a generous donation of $10,000 towards cash prices for winners of the Student Section. We have also collaborated with The Peranakan Association, The Eurasian Association, the Goh Loo Club and any other civic organisations.
In 2015, GSS and Singapore Memory Project under NLB jointly organised the Family History Writing Competition in support of Singapore’s Silver Jubilee. The Competition attracted 600 participants ranging in age between 10 to 90 years old. It was the first such competition ever organised by any organisation both in and outside Singapore. Winning entries are available at the Society website.
In 2019, we published the book by Cyprian Lim entitled ‘My Maternal Roots- A Story of Family, Faith and Freedom in support of SG Bicentennial. The Book traces 20 generations of the Big Lee Family which made significant contribution to the development of Catholicism in Singapore. The Book received a grant from National Heritage Board.
In October 2022, we published the book by Bernard Chiang entitled ‘The Chiang Family History – A Tale of Three Cultures and the Then Chia Keng Village’. The Book traces three components of the family in China, Thailand and Singapore over eight generations, and the Singapore Family’s sustained community service in Chia Keng Village, the Braddell Heights Constituency and elsewhere in Singapore over a few decades. It also received a grant from NHB.
These are the first two books on Singaporeans’ family history published under the Society’s Publication Plan. A third book on twelve family histories of Singaporeans is scheduled for publication next year. This book will feature family history of an Arab, a Eurasian, two Indians, a Malay (Bugis), a Peranakan and the rest Chinese. This is the first multi-ethnic genealogy book to be published by us. This also received a small grant from NHB.
The Society will continue to encourage Singaporeans to write their family history and to publish for them, either singly or jointly with a few persons, depending on the depth of details and length of the text. The Society will apply for NHB grants and cover the deficits if any from supporters’ donations. We also arrange all stages of publication and launch. The authors need only to concentrate on research and writing an interesting narrative.
The Society began with only Chinese members. We have now achieved our aim to be a truly Singaporean Society with the addition of Arab, Eurasian, Indian, and Malay members. We also have associated life members from Australia, UK, USA and even Russia.
In 2021, we embark on a strategic planning exercise to review the past and project the future for the Society. We are fortunate to have our life member Mr Liew Shin Liat, a retired corporate planning expert to lead the Exercise gratis. After analysing our strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats, we have arrived at establishing a few task forces to continue what we have been doing and to spearhead new initiatives to enable the Society keeps pace with new development and societal requirements.
On this note, I wish you an enjoyable and fruitful evening!
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