Singapore Family History Writing Competition 2015 Prize Presentation Ceremony

22 October 2015, 7.00 pm, the POD, Level 16, National Library building, 100 Victoria Street.
Guest of Honour: Mr Baey Yam Keng, Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth.

The Ceremony was attended by 150 guests, comprising VIPs, prize winners and their family members. Among the VIPs were Mrs Elaine Ng, Chief Executive, National Library Board; Mr Ho Kiau Seng, Vice President, Singapore Federation of Chinese Clan Associations; Mr Choo Thiam Siew, Chief Executive Officer, Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre; Ms Liew Hui Furn, Assistant Director, People’s Association; Mr Saravenam Tanapal, Deputy Director, Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY); Ms Tracy Ng, Manager MCCY; Prof Zhou Min, Director, NTU Chinese Heritage Centre; Mr Kek Boon Leong, President, Nanyang Confucian Association; Mr Henry Hong Huan Lian, President, Confucius Descendants Association of Singapore; Mr Peter Wee, President, The Peranakan Association Singapore; representatives from The Nanyang Khek Community Guild, Singapore Lam Ann Association, Tung Ann District Guild, Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth, Nanyang Girls’ High School and Hwa Chong Institute.

Guests at the Prize Presentation Ceremony

Singapore Hokien Huay Kuan, Nanyang Khek Community Guild, Singapore Lam Ann Association and Teo Ann Huay Kuan sent bouquets which enhanced the ambience considerably.

The Competition was jointly organised by Genealogy Society Singapore and National Library Board to celebrate SG 50 through the special way of encouraging Singapore families to compile the Singapore Chapter of their own family histories. It was supported by Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre and Peoples’ Association, and sponsored by the SG 50 Celebration Fund, the Lee Foundation, the Goh Foundation, Kuan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple and Poh Tiong Choon Cultural Fund.

It was opened on 1 November 2014 by Ms Sim Ann, Minister of State for Education as well as for Culture, Community and Youth. Entries closed on 30 August 2015. Out of the 600 odd entries received by the Organisers, a total of 53 participants won prizes:

• 5 entries were singled out for Special Mention, each receiving $500 cash sponsored by Goh Foundation. These were well written but exceeded the size limits of the Competition;
• 8 entries had won the Distinguished Prize in the Open Section, each receiving $1000 cash sponsored by Lee Foundation;
• 15 entries had won the Merit Prize in the Open Section, each receiving $500 cash sponsored by Goh Foundation;
• 10 entries had won the Distinguished Prize in the Junior Section, each receiving $600 cash, sponsored by Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre;
• 15 entries had won the Merit Prize in the Junior Section, each receiving $300 cash sponsored by Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre.

Besides the cash prizes, all winners received a Certificate of Participation, a book entitled “新加坡华族谱系“published by Genealogy Society Singapore, and a notebook produced by Singapore Memory Project.

In his speech, Mr Baey remarked that the Singapore Family History Writing Competition 2015 reminds us that even while we look towards our future collectively as a nation, we should never forget our roots.

Guest of Honour, Mr Baey Yam Keng, addressing the guests

He was happy to note the encouraging response all round, with a 3 year old child and a 95 year old gentleman taking an interest in tracing their family history and heritage. He observed that all entries were deposited on the Singapore Memory Project (SMP) website, aimed at capturing and documenting precious moments and personal memories related to Singapore. These entries contribute to over 1 million memories collected under the SMP. He hoped the audience would spend some time visiting the website: www.singaporememory.sg to explore these interesting memories and stories.

Mr Baey cited the case of 74 year old Mr Chui Seng Wah who won a Special Mention for his entry. Initially did not intend to compile his family history, his interest was kindled when he learnt about the Competition. He then started to dig into family albums and documents, and having more conversations with his family. He documented that his father came from a village in Guangdong Province in China with only a few personal belongings, toiled and became a successful tailor. He went on to become the President of the Singapore Tailoring Association. His father was also an active supporter of schools and hospitals.

Mr Chui went on to visit his ancestral home in Guangdong, and even traced his ancient ancestor to Jiang Ziya in the Province of Shandong, a well-known historical figure. His quest for his ancestry was also highlighted in the Shandong TV Station and he became quite a local celebrity too. It must have been a fulfilling journey for Mr Chui in his discovery.

From Mr Chui’s example, this Competition reinforced the importance of knowing and understanding one’s roots and heritage. Mr Baey hoped the efforts would continue beyond this Project. When you systematically collect these valuable nuggets of information, you will be surprised at how it pieces together to form a larger story that you may not have known in the past. It will be a chapter in your family history to share with generations to come. With it being publicly available now, it will add to the Singapore story that we are all writing together.

Mr Baey urged clan associations, schools, cultural and civic organisations to join in the concerted efforts with Genealogy Society Singapore in promoting roots-tracing among Singaporeans.

Mr Baey presented the Special Mention Prizes, Distinguished Prizes and Merit Prizes in the Open Category. Mr Ho Kiau Seng, in his capacity as Deputy Chairman, Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre presented the Distinguished Prizes in the Junior Section, and Mr Choo Thiam Siew, CEO, Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre presented the Merit Prizes in the Junior Section.

Mr Ng Yew Kang, President, Genealogy Society Singapore told the audience that his Society would work with partners to continue in conducting talks, workshops and heritage tours to help Singaporeans compile their recent family history. The Society would also publish a consolidated catalogue of genealogical records available in major Singapore libraries and Singapore Federation of Chinese Clan Associations in a suitable format. It would also consider establishing a database of genealogical records of Singaporeans that would complement the collections in the libraries and Singapore Memory Project website.

Mr Ng thanked all supporters, sponsors and participants for their supports which contributed to the success of the Competition. He specially thanked Nanyang Girls’ High School for helping to secure 220 entries from her Secondary 1 students, and Hwa Chong Institute for helping to secure 20 entries by her students.

Several members of the public donated their family genealogical records to National Library Board.

Mr Ng then presented mementos (a blue and white tea set commissioned by his Society in Jingdezhen, China) to the Guest of Honour, National Library Board, Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre, Peoples’ Association, The SG 50 Celebration Fund, Nanyang Girls’ High School, Hwa Chong Institute. The memento would be presented to other sponsors and the Competition judges at a later date.

The other participants would receive a certificate of participation, a book published by Genealogy and a notebook produced by Singapore Memory Project.

They can get these articles at the Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre from Mondays to Fridays from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm at 397, Lorong 2, Toa Payoh, Singapore 319639 (in the same premises as Singapore Federation of Chinese Clan Associations), Telephone: 62590398.