HWA WWJ 2012hwa.org.sg/files/hdigest/HWA Digest Jul-Sep 2012.pdf · San Mui and Mr Willie Yeo for assisting in selling the donation draw tickets over the past 4 months. They have

A Publication of Handicaps Welfare AssociationMICA (P) 060/06/2012

Jul - Sep 2012Ju Sep 20 2

HWA WWJ 2012

ContentsJul-Sep 2012

The Handicaps Welfare Association was founded to encourage and foster

the ideals of self-help and mutual assistance among the disabled and to

promote their welfare. All the members of the Executive Committee are persons

with disabilities.

EDITORIAL TEAMSubrata Banerjee

Ronnie CheokJason Rodrigo

Hon. Medical AdvisorsProf Arthur S M Lim

Prof Peter H C LimDr Roy Ng Kwok Weng

Dr Tan Seang BengDr E B Menon

Dr Siow Woei Yun

Legal AdvisorMr Roy Yeo

Building AdvisorMr Lee Mun Hoe

Electrical Advisor Mr Loh Kok Onn

Published by Handicaps Welfare Association

16 Whampoa DriveSingapore 327725

Tel: 6254 3006Fax: 6253 7375

Email: [email protected]

Design and Print by Octogram Press Pte Ltd

Handicaps Digest is a quarterly publication of the Handicaps Welfare Association. The opinions and views expressed in this magazine by writers

do not necessarily reflect the official view of THE HANDICAPS WELFARE ASSOCIATION.

Information is correct at time of printing.

2 ED’s Foreword

3 Editorial

Main Features4 Fifty Prize Winners at HWA All-Cash Donation Draw 2012

Supporters 8 Donation of Specially Adapted Bus

Members’ Activities10 Members Activities

Picture Perfect16 HWA Charity Walk Raises Funds and Bonds Community

In Focus

20 Boys Brigade CARES

24 HWA Members Feedback Session

Calendar of Events

28 Calendar of Events

Handicaps Digest Jul - Sep 201202

FOREWORD BY EXECUTIVE DIRECTORDear Members, Volunteers and Friends,

I am very thankful to the group of members and volunteers who have heeded our appeal and actively participated by assisting HWA in raising funds. We continue to appeal for your help and will find ways to incentivise or acknowledge you.

I would like to specially mention Ms Oh Pong, Ms Pang San Mui and Mr Willie Yeo for assisting in selling the donation draw tickets over the past 4 months. They have given so much time to this project and we would like to see more of such members coming forward to sell our donation draw tickets in year 2013. If you are interested, please feel free to register your interest with us. Our next major event, HWA Year-End Party will be held on 16 December. More information of this event will be available by mid October 2012.

More can be done and as such, HWA has decided to introduce priority privileges for members, who have come forward to support us at any of our fund raising events. We will monitor and accord special privileges based on how frequent your participation is. Privileges will include priority selection to all social and recreational outing events, year-end parties, etc and even paying less in fees than what other members will be paying. We will no

longer practice the ‘1st come 1st serve’ booking. Active members will be accorded higher priority or chances to participate before we open to other members, and these may be subjected to balloting. More information on this new policy will be forwarded to members after it has been finalised. For those who have helped, we will take their active participation into this priority privilege scheme.

Many of the members who contribute to HWA over the past few decades are reaching their silver age and as such, leadership renewal is critical to the future of HWA. I believe there are some within our membership who have an altruistic spirit to help their fellow members and the public who are financially not able to pay for the services they receive from HWA. It will be inspiring to see these members coming forward to help in fund-raising as a gesture of giving back in appreciation of the services for which they were beneficiary to.

I believe more of our members can do their part. I am looking forward to new active leaders who would be able to see HWA through to the next decade.

Best regardsSubrata Banerjee

Executive Director

Handicaps Digest Jul - Sep 2012 03

Editorial

Executive Committee2011/2012

PRESIDENTEDMUND WAN

VICE PRESIDENTHUI BENG HONG

HONORARY SECRETARYJUDY TAN

HONORARY ASSISTANT SECRETARYMICHELLE SIEW

HONORARY TREASURERDESIREE LIM

HONORARY ASSISTANT TREASURERWENDY LAU

COMMITTEE MEMBERSTEO TECK SOONPOON WAI YUANPHILIP PNGCHIU TZE MINGEE BEE ENGFREDDY TANG

HWA welcomes the following new members into its family:

Ordinary MembersChan Si Qi AmandaDylan Christopher PeterFok Kum SengGoh Kiah TianHaslina Binte SupariJun Arjuna Bin JunitLeong FongLeow Boon KeeLeow Kok Chuan @Abdul Razak Leow Bin AbdullahLim Tian HoLoh Jia WeiMak Yian LingMary-Lynn Soh Feng LingNg DaisyOng Chew SanOnn Chor HianPoh Choo KiangTan Khian SengTan Soh GuatVong Tet LoongWee Chong Leng, WesleyYew Toh Hoi

New Members


Main Feature

Fifty Prize Winners at HWAAll-Cash Donation Draw 2012

There was an air of expectation as visitors strolled into the premises of the Handicaps Welfare Association’s (HWA) Multi-Purpose Hall at Whampoa Drive on the morning of the 25th of August 2012.

The visitors were all there for the much anticipated HWA All-Cash Donation Draw; hoping to win one of the fifty prizes.

Staff at HWA were busy with the preparation, ensuring the equipment was ready for this much anticipated event in the HWA calendar. The draw would be witnessed by HWA President Edmund Wan, HWA’s auditors represented by Ms. Chee Chai Boon of auditing firm, Y.C. Lee and Company and HWA Volunteer, Ms. Jolin Hong. The 3 witnesses inspected the spheres and the numbered balls to ensure that all was in order.

As the clock inched towards 10 a.m., there was hush of anticipation when Master-of-Ceremony for the day, Ms Cheryl Hariman from HWA’s Fund-Raising Department greeted the audience and introduced the process of how the draw was to proceed. Cheryl next introduced the judges and the 6 beautiful ladies who would be rolling the spheres, giving us the lucky numbers for the fifty prizes at stake.

There were cheers as the draw got underway with the drawing of the 50th prize. Excitement grew as we inched towards the top prize of $15,888. Equally, there were also sighs of disappointment as those present rued their misfortune.

Alas, all too soon it was time to draw the top prize and there was a hush as one by one, the numbers were announced to loud cheers. The winning ticket for the prize of $15,888 was the number 086007.


After all the excitement, it was time for the judges and staff to verify all the numbers drawn. Everyone was then invited to a sumptuous lunch as another of HWA’s major fund-raising event drew to a close with the departure of our guests for the day which included volunteers, judges, HWA members and some members of the public who had come to see if they had won a prize.

HWA would like to place on record our sincere thanks to Singapore Pools & Tote Board, all who purchased the donation draw tickets, volunteers, HWA members who helped in ticket sales and all well-wishers for their fantastic support; without which this event would not have been a success.

We look forward to an equally successful fund-raising event next year.

-

s ereh de


Main Feature



Supporters

The bus was registered in July 2012 and blessed by a monk on 13 August 2012 before going into operation.

This bus will be operating under the Rehab & Dial-A-Ride scheme (DAR) which ferries people with physical disabilities for rehabilitation, medical consultation, dialysis, educational training & leisure activities.

We would like to say a big “Thank you” to Ms Koh for her generous donation to our Association as we continue to strive towards achieving our objectives of improving the quality of life of people with disabilities and their eventual integration into mainstream society.

Donation Of Specially Adapted BusHWA was very fortunate to receive another bus from a generous donor, Ms Koh L. K.



Member’s Activities

Visit To Gardens By The Bay







Visit To Singapore Science Centre



Picture Perfect

HWA Charity WalkRaises Funds and Bonds CommunityMore than 1,000 participants comprising of students, adults and disabled members turned up at the Japanese Gardens on 22 July 2012 to participate in Handicaps Welfare Association’s (HWA) 28th Wheel, Walk or Jog cum runOn.

The event was graced by Mr Masagos Zulkifli, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Home Affairs. In his welcome address, the Minister praised the Association’s efforts to promote an inclusive society. Participants from all walks of life together with our disabled members then proceeded to complete a 3.5 km route around the scenic and breath-taking park managed by Jurong Town Corporation.

This year the organizing committee decided to include a running component where running enthusiasts’ could complete a 10 km run with our home-grown disabled runner, Mr Mohd Shariff better known as the Singapore Blade Runner. Just before the run commenced, the warm-up sessions led by the ever-colourful pom-pom dancers of ITE Central led with a series of exercises followed by the flag off by our Guest-Of-Honour.

Forty minutes later, run participant, Miss Tan became the first runner to cross the finishing line and she shared with us the thrill of running with Blade Runner, Mohammed Shariff. She gave the inaugural “runOn” the thumbs up, sharing that the run was an inspiring event

g s2 e g

,ere l

that not only created greater awareness about HWA and its activities but also promoted an inclusive society where everyone mattered.

While our members and race participants were enjoying the scenic route, the other event visitors explored the various fringe activities organised by students of ITE Central. One popular activity was the caricature drawing, where one could get one’s portrait drawn. Meanwhile as everyone completed their walk or run, they were treated to a melody of songs by our evergreen resident entertainer, Kumarino, who sang songs made popular by famous artists like Tom Jones, The Eagles and The Carpenters.

While our participants were mesmerised by the song and dance items put up by the various entertainers, the highlight of the day was still the lucky draw where participants crossed their fingers hoping that their lucky numbers would be called. It was very heartening to witness one of the winners


who had won a prize but chose to re-donate it so as to allow someone else an opportunity to win a prize.

All too soon, the event came to a close. We would like to place on record our deepest appreciation to sponsors, donors and volunteers who have made this year’s event a meaningful and memorable one. They are Main Sponsor, Regency Steel Asia Pte Ltd, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Singapore Pools and Giant Hypermarket for continuously supporting us all these years. Many thanks to Jurong Town Corporation as well for offering us a beautiful and scenic venue.

We are also grateful to the various schools and volunteers who made a difference in the lives of our members on the day. As we plan for next year’s event, we are confident that our event has helped create a more gracious and compassionate society.


Picture Perfect



Boys Brigade CARES

In Focus

The BB CARES Day is an annual event organized by the 85th Boys’ Brigade Company based in Jurong West Secondary School. This annual event aims to form binding friendships among members of the Handicaps Welfare Association (HWA).

The BB Community Activities Rallying Everyone to Serve project or BB CARES for short, serves as an occasion for members to interact and meet, helps strengthen bonds and friendship between new members as well as old members and the Boys’ Brigade. Every year, members are exposed to a variety of games and activities planned and organized by the boys.

This year, BB CARES Day was held on Saturday, 28th July 2012 at the precinct hall at Block 94E Whampoa Drive. Apart from games and activities, the 85th Boy’s Brigade Company arranged for free meals, games prizes and gifts for the event.

To prepare for the event, the boys were at our premises bright and early in the morning to help carry the tables and chairs to the event location.

Upon arrival, our members were warmly welcomed by the Boys’ Brigade. They were then divided into groups for the respective station games and activities. The objective of these games and activities was to encourage our members to participate actively. This allows different groups from the community


the opportunity to come together thereby building a stronger and more inclusive society.

As the time approached for lunch, the boys made our members feel important, serving them with the utmost respect at their table as well as assisting them whenever they needed help. The Boys helped wheel their guests and assisted in their toileting needs. The event ended with a Karaoke and song performance by the boys, which was dedicated to the members of HWA. Without the boys’ passion to help, things would not have been a success.

Through this collaboration, the Boys’ Brigade have learnt how to connect with the physically disabled community. It was indeed a joyful and rewarding day for the boys as well as HWA’s members.

One member, Mr Sim Beng Kim shared with us his excitement and joy. Mr Sim shared that his family usually does not allow him to leave his home but it was a rare opportunity for him to participate in an event of this nature and his family relented. Another member, Mr Willie Yeo, helped spread the cheer at the event by mingling among our members, actively participating and encouraging members during the games and Karaoke sessions.

We look forward to another day of exciting games and activities on the next BB Day in 2013. Our heartfelt thanks to the 85th Boys’ Brigade for organizing this memorable event for our members.


In Focus



HWA Members Feedback Session

The Handicaps W e l f a r e A s s o c i a t i o n (HWA) Executive C o m m i t t e e c o n d u c t e d a feedback sharing session with members i m m e d i a t e l y after the 43rd Annual General Meeting (AGM) held on 30th June 2012.

The Executive Committee felt that the views of members are important in helping to shape the future directions of the Association. We would like to thank all those who have participated and are hopeful that more members will come forward to work with us.

A summary of the feedback sharing session chaired by our President, Edmund Wan are as follows:

1. Attracting new and younger members - Ms Judy Ann Wee urged the management to find ways to attract younger people to participate in HWA activities and contribute to the Association actively. Ms Sherena Loh suggested identifying members for leadership training programmes so as to groom them for Ex-Co roles. She also suggested organising more fellowship activities to identify potential Ex-Co Members.

2. Welfare Subsidy - Mr Timothy Ang felt that HWA was not providing enough welfare


for members. E x e c u t i v e Director, Mr Subrata clarified that most of the subsidy schemes today, are dispensed by various g o v e r n m e n t agencies based on their defined

set of criteria. For the Association, the limited funds that we are able to raise each year limit the subsidy we can provide. Generally, the subsidies given are very generous.

3. Transport - Mr Timothy Ang also raised concerns relating to the transport scheme operated by HWA. It seems that the transport services could not cope with the demand and fees are still costly for some financially needy members, even though it is less expensive than public taxis. President acknowledged the fact that with the growing demand, HWA Transport Service is not able to cope especially if we were to include serving the elderly community. HWA is working closely for funding support from MCYS to expand our services to meet the demand.

4. Better benefits for those who help - Mr Farouk s/o Ahmad Shah shared that we should try to provide even better benefits in terms of drinks, food and transport subsidy for those who help, especially in fund-raising. This may attract more members to come forward.

5. Parking abuse of disabled parking lots. Ms

Judy Ann Wee shared that it was not the colour


of the label but rather the abuse by some label holders as a result of the shortage of disabled lots. While this topic was hotly pursued, we will all need to be mindful and balance our views of the needs for the two segments, namely Class 1 (drivers with disabilities) and Class II (caregivers of persons with disabilities form the larger group). Abuse has been growing but there is no official statistics to back our claim as we often receive isolated reports from members.

CEL is the issuing authority and sets the rules. Members should therefore report any abuse to CEL directly instead, accompanied by photographic evidence.

6. Future Premises, SLA has granted an extension of the lease for another 5 years (lease was supposed to end by 2013) to 2018. With this extension we need to do some renovation for safety structural fixes to our current premises to last us at least for 5 years – replacing termite infested beams, etc. We therefore need to plan ahead for the sourcing of alternative premises.

7. Services - Ms Sherena Loh suggested a review of the services and the fees we charge to focus on those services we can do well. Should we sharpen our current services to bring in value-added benefits and to remain relevant or bringing in new services?

8. Succession plans – We need to find new passionate and young members to run the Association.





Calendar of Events

Calendar of Events

24 November

16 December

NDL Ten Pin Bowling

Organized/Supported BySDSC

HWA Year-End Party

Organized/Supported ByHWA


Request For Contributions


Call for Donations


DRIVING LESSONS FOR

Freedom to Drive, Freedom to ExploreFreedom. It's an essential part of an active

life. It means setting your own agenda,

getting behind the wheel and going where

you want to go. Whether you're running

errands or visiting family and friends, you

have the ability to take control of your busy

life, and of course, you have the freedom to

expand your world!

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT

HANDICAPS WELFARE ASSOCIATION

16 WHAMPOA DRIVE SINGAPORE 327725TEL. 6254-3006 FAX. 6253-7375

WEBSITE: www.hwa.org.sg

DISABLED PERSONRegistration Fee : $30.00 (one-time payment)

Instruction Fee : $60.00 per 100 minutesRefresher Course : $75.00 per 100 minutesRental of Vehicle for test : $120.00

HANDICAPS WELFARE ASSOCIATION - DRIVING INSTRUCTIONAL FEES

(WITH EFFECT FROM 1ST MARCH 2012)


Advertisment Rates


AcknowledgementsOur thanks and appreciation to the following generous donors:

Donation of $10,000 and above

HAN SENG JUAN

KOH LEE KIANG

REGENCY STEEL ASIA PTE LTD

SHUNMUGAM JAYAKUMAR

TEO POH LIAN PTE LTD

Donation of $2,000 and above

AEROSPEC SUPPLIES PTE LTD

CHANG CHENG GROUP PTE LTD

CHAR YONG (DABU) FOUNDATION LIMITED

CHENG JIAN FENN

CHIA CHOR MENG

CHIN FONG METAL PTE LTD

CHOO TECK SENG

GOH KOK HWA

JOBSITE.COM PTE LTD

KOH RECYCLE & TRADING

KOK CHUN WAI VINCENT

LEJEN ALUMINIUM PTE LTD

LIM KIM HONG MICHAEL

LIM SZER KHEE

METHODIST GIRLS’ SCHOOL

NEWQUEST (TRADING) PTE LTD

NGEE ANN DEVELOPMENT PRIVATE LIMITED

NIKON PRECISION SINGAPORE PTE LTD

RICO ENGINEERING WORKS PTE LTD

SEA AND LAND TECHNOLOGIES PTE LTD

SHINKO BEARINGS & BELTINGS PTE LTD

SIM CHENG HUAT JOHN

SINGAPORE POST LIMITED

TAMPINES CHINESE TEMPLE

TAMPINES SECONDARY SCHOOL

TAN CHIN TUAN FOUNDATION

TAN EI LING

THE SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CONFERENCE (SINGAPORE)

TONY PHUA

WEARNES AUTOMOTIVE PTE LTD

WWW.TIALU.SG


Our MissionAn organisation committed to enhancethe quality of life of people with physical disabilities and integrate them into mainstream society.

Documents

HWA WWJ 2012hwa.org.sg/files/hdigest/HWA Digest Jul-Sep 2012.pdf · San Mui and Mr Willie Yeo for assisting in selling the donation draw tickets over the past 4 months. They have