|
Caroline de Guzman Public Relations Manager Singapore Recreation Club DID: 6430
7572 Email: caroline.pr@src.org.sg |
A. Rashid General Manager/Secretary Singapore Recreation Club Tel:
6339 9367 Email: gm@src.org.sg |
Singapore Recreation Club Turns 120
Celebrates
120 years of excellence at evening Padang party
SINGAPORE,
28 August 2003 – The Singapore Recreation Club (SRC) will celebrate
its 120th birthday with an evening party at the Padang tomorrow, 29
August. Mr Chan Soo Sen, Minister of State for Education, Community Development
and Sports & MP for Joo Chiat will be attending the event as Guest of
Honour.
Celebrating 120 years of excellence
The Club has plenty to celebrate as Singapore’s
third-oldest social club. Established in 1883 with 30 Eurasian founding members,
it has a well-documented history of producing sportsmen and sportswomen in the
area of men’s and ladies’ hockey, cricket, billiards and softball who have gone
on to represent Singapore in their respective sports, as part of the national
team.
Said Club president, Dr Johnny Goh in his message to
members published in a commemorative issue to mark the celebrations, “SRC was
born with the primary objective of serving members’ needs for active
participation in sports. In those days, we did not have cinemas, shopping
centres and community centres to entertain us. Sports were the panacea for
boredom, loneliness and poor health.”
When he became President in 1991, the management committee
was faced with one of its biggest challenges since its inception – its survival
on the Padang. The clubhouse at that time did not meet the Urban Redevelopment
Authority’s grand plans for the Civic District. It could not be considered a
national heritage building and the Club’s 30-year lease of the Padang was about
to expire within a few years.
In 1993, the committee asked members for approval to make
memberships transferable and launch new memberships to raise money to extend
the lease and build the current ultra-modern clubhouse on the Padang. Today,
the $65 million clubhouse is enjoyed by 5,500 principal members, consisting of
ordinary, lady, corporate, patron, life, veteran, sporting, honorary and term
members.
The Flying Dutchman, Mark van Cuylenberg will act as emcee
for the event while Mediacorp artiste Sharon Au is set to make a special
appearance. The event is only open to SRC members, who get to attend the event
for free, and their invited guests. To mark the 120th year, satay is
also being offered at a special price of $1.20 for ten sticks to members.
Offering some insight on plans for SRC in the future, Dr
Goh concluded, “as a progressive Club, we must embrace change for the betterment
of our members. We have survived the trials and tribulations of 120 years. We
will triumphantly make our journey through this millennium.”