|
THE FIRST TWO OVERSEAS SINGAPOREAN CLUBS are at the Stamford Plaza Melbourne (above) and the Sir Stamford Circular Quay in Sydney. Australia was chosen as it has the highest number of overseas Singaporeans. -- PHOTO: STAMFORD HOTELS AND RESORTS
|
|
|
SINGAPOREANS in Australia could be shuffling mahjong tiles in a posh hotel, as they bond over roti prata and dim sum.
That is being made possible with the launch of Overseas Singaporean Clubs in Melbourne and Sydney yesterday.
The Overseas Singaporean Unit (OSU), which was set up to maintain ties with Singaporeans abroad, hopes that such clubs - housed in Singapore-owned hotels in major cities - will serve as activity centres and a meeting point.
The Melbourne and Sydney clubs are the first in what the OSU hopes will be an increasing number of places where Singaporeans can get together, exchange information and expand their social networks, Mr Chiang Chie Foo, Permanent Secretary (Prime Minister's Office), said in Melbourne yesterday.
Both clubs are located in five-star hotels owned by Singapore company Stamford Land Corporation.
The hotels - the Stamford Plaza Melbourne and the Sir Stamford Circular Quay in Sydney - will set aside part of their bars to be the 'club area', where Singaporeans can meet and mingle.
Singapore newspapers and magazines will be available, and yes, even a mahjong table if members feel like a game or two.
Speaking in Singapore ahead of the launch, OSU director Roy Quek explained that while many Singapore-related associations exist overseas, there is no 'formalised' club to bring Singaporeans together.
The OSU, which is under the Prime Minister's Office, began with Sydney and Melbourne as Australia has the largest concentration of overseas Singaporeans - some 40,000 reside there.
Plans to expand the network to New York City, London, Beijing and Shanghai are in the pipeline, Mr Quek added.
Singapore-owned pubs and restaurants - not just hotels - in these cities can be potential partners for future clubs, he said.
Club members in Sydney and Melbourne will enjoy, among other things, a free drink with every three bought at the bar, as well as dining discounts at Stamford Land's 10 hotels in Australia and New Zealand.
Said Stamford Land executive chairman Ow Chio Kiat: 'We're proud to be able to play our part. After all, we are all Singaporeans in a foreign country and we need to support one another.'
Miss Charmaine Tay, a 22-year-old Singaporean student in Canberra who visits Sydney at least three times a year, is looking forward to joining the club.
'We have a students' association and it has helped ease my homesickness since I got here,' said Miss Tay, who arrived in Australia a year ago.
Others, like Sydney student Kin Li-ray, 24, were less enthusiastic. He preferred to socialise with people of other nationalities.
Those interested in joining the clubs can sign up at www.overseassingaporean.sg/overseassingaporeanclub
ghimlay@sph.com.sg
|
