Farewell MyQueenstown

Farewell MyQueenstown #7 - Farewell KTM Tracks

On 30 Jun 2011 | 6 Comments

Much has been written about KTM Tracks lately. A simple search on Google and Yahoo will bring you to numerous websites such as this and this. After all, this cantankerous relic was Singapore's brave new world in the early 20th century.  I have always been a believer of my secondary school's motto, "Rooted in Tradition, Equipped for the Future."

永别了!女皇镇!#7 一摊油条传三代

On 30 Apr 2011 | 1 Comments

一摊油条传三代 在玛格列熟食中心,“生活公市”说得上是个客至如云的摊子。这个小摊子,不售卖任何煮炒;摊子主人则一年三百六十五天,天天在摊内起个炉炸上一条条的油条。 “生活公市”摊主李马才先生(58岁)是这家油条摊的第三代。 祖父自中国南来便炸油条为业,后来其父亦继承了祖父的业务。“生活公市”自1969年起,正式迁入玛格列熟食中心营业。李先生从小便跟随父亲学手艺,在油锅边打转。 李先生的油条,以香脆爽口闻名。在80年代初,李先生每一日几乎可炸近200条油条。李家一家五人总要齐齐上阵来应付顾客的需要。 如今,虽然李先生的摊子已搬迁到亚历山大村熟食中心,但他对玛格列熟食中心仍然十分怀念。再见了,玛格列熟食中心!

Farewell MyQueenstown #6 - The Taste of Wanton Noodle Lingers...

On 24 Mar 2011 | 18 Comments

Mr. Phoon Hon Sun, 64, and his family started selling barbeque pork from a pushcart at the terminal for Hock Lee bus service no.9 some 53 years ago. The bus terminal was located next to Blocks 6B and 7 along Margaret Close, a cluster of flats which were demolished during the 1990s. A familiar sight no more Every afternoon, residents who lived in the seven

Home Sweet Home @ MyQueenstown

Home Sweet Home #15 - A New Day Has Come =)

On 24 Apr 2011 | 11 Comments

Last week, MyQueenstown team interviewed Mdm Chan about her life in Blk 15 Holland Drive. Under SERS, she was assigned a new apartment in the newly developed blocks just a stone throw sway. Today, we visit Hisham Suni, 38, who moved over from Blk 17 to his new apartment in Blk 18C Holland Drive. Hisham Suni and his son =) Hisham is delighted by his new ap

Home Sweet Home #14 - Farewell Holland Drive

On 17 Apr 2011 | 3 Comments

Blk 15, Holland Drive looked vacant and cold when MyQueenstown team visited this morning. The shop houses under the apartment block were all covered with card boards and all that was left were traces of glass panels, which could possibly be a beauty parlor in its place before. The lift was still working. Mdm Chan - a long time resident at Holland Drive A c

Home Sweet Home #13 - Commonwealth 10! Here I Come!

On 10 Apr 2011 | 3 Comments

The front door was wide open when MyQueenstown team visited Mr Lee, 78, at his apartment in Blk 74 Commonwealth Drive. Feeling curious, we knocked onto the door and was greeted by a sleepy looking Mr Lee. Mr Lee who lives alone at Block 74 Retired more than a decade ago, Mr Lee is living alone as he prefers being independent to tagging along with his chi

News@MyQueenstown

Response to Straits Times Forum: "Active Citizenry Needs Space to Find Its Feet"

On 26 Aug 2011 | 25 Comments

A week ago, Mr. Eric Tan, Director of the National Archives of Singapore, explained that the archives have generously acceded to our requests for photographs to be published in our website, upcoming book and newsletter. This was not the full story. Last year, we wrote in to the National Archives of Singapore, requesting them to sponsor photographs of the ol

MyQueenstown Celebrates: Consecration Ceremony at Sri Muneeswaran Temple!

On 10 Jul 2011 | 1 Comments

Tanglin Halt residents are wokened up by the vociferous wailing of nadaswaram and thavil ensemble at Sri Muneeswaran Temple this morning. More than 15,000 residents and devotees have gathered at the Southeast Asia's largest Hindu temple worshiping the Muneeswaran god to witness the consecration ceremony. A consecration ceremony is a festive occasion done on

女皇镇1周新闻快讯 - 第二十五期

On 08 Jul 2011 | 6 Comments

女皇弄组屋 同一垃圾糟 两年3纵火  女皇弄组屋走廊垃圾糟,三度起火,居民人心惶惶,警列恶作剧纵火处理。 位于女皇镇一带的女皇弄第21座组屋8楼的电梯口,今早7时15分左右发生大火。 一名住在事发地点附近的居民,惊见滚滚黑烟从该处冒出 最高74万5000元 最低40多万 女皇镇 四房转售价 相差近37万  在热门组屋区女皇镇里,有四房式组屋最近以74万5000元的最高价转售,但也有37万8000元。 组屋溢价回升之际,热门地点如女皇镇的组屋转售价也持续攀升。今年4月,一间位于女皇镇史达拉摩道(Strathmore Ave)的四房式高楼单位,以74万5000元售出。 最后一次乘搭火车北上  火车开动了!该各就各位了吧。经过女皇镇、武吉知马、武吉班让时看到铁路旁站着许

My Father and I

Former Tanglin Halt Industrial Estate

On 14 May 2011 | 2 Comments

The industrialisation programme took off in Queenstown when the Tanglin Halt Industrial Estate was established to generate employment in the neighbourhood. Initially, the Singapore Improvement Trust (SIT) planned a small industrial estate at Tanglin Halt to provide employment for the new residents. Measuring some 20 acres of land consisting of 38 factories

Queenstown Baptist Church

On 03 May 2011 | 1 Comments

The Singapore Improvement Trust (SIT) set aside seven sites for religious use and advertised for religious organisations to ballot in the 1950s. Of the ten enquiries received, four withdrew, leaving six Christian organisations. These went on to build the first churches of Queenstown; Queenstown Baptist Church, Queenstown Lutheran Church, Faith Methodist Ch

Archipelago Brewery Company (Anchorpoint)

On 22 Apr 2011 | 3 Comments

Established in 1931 by German businessmen, Archipelago Brewery Company was the first commercial brewery in Singapore. It was located next to the Malayan Railway, which provided convenient transportation for exporting the beer in Tanjong Pagar. Archipelago Brewery Company One of the more popular beer produced at Archipelago Brewery Company was Anchor Beer.

Makan Shiok!

Snacks Attack #13 - Ah Luck Bean Curd

On 23 Dec 2010 | 2 Comments

Mr Chua, 25, runs Ah Luck Beancurd in Tanglin Halt market for more than 2 years. He is renting the stall from the original owner who has based his stall in the same area for more than 40 years. Ah Luck Bean Curd offers drinks and deserts such as soya bean drink, grass jelly and the residents' favorite soya bean curd (60 cents). A Delicious Bowl of Bean Curd

Snacks Attack #12 - Satay Mad in Tanglin Halt!

On 16 Dec 2010 | 7 Comments

 Ann, 46 runs the family food stall for over 10 years in Tanglin Halt hawker centre. Serving halal food for over a decade in the same place, Ann has integrated her dishes to suit the taste buds of Queenstown residents, especially the Malay community. The simple food stall offers snacks such as satay, otah and seafood dishes. As a family styled bus

Snacks Attack #11 - Almond & Peanut Paste!

On 09 Dec 2010 | 0 Comments

DessertStory, located in Anchorpoint basement one, has been serving residents tasty snacks and deserts for the past four years. Wendy, the supervisor of the cafe, introduced the various homemade desserts that they offer. A bowl of Almond Paste Hot desserts are mainly the favourite choice among Queenstown residents. Firstly, they have almond paste which is m

Random Thoughts @ MyQueenstown

Random Thoughts @ MyQueenstown #9 - 7 Funerals in 2 weeks

On 22 May 2011 | 0 Comments

7 funerals in 2 weeks. There is a flurry of "activity" these two weeks for correspondents from My Queenstown. We did not leave our traces in photographs as a mark of respect for the deceased. We did leave our sincere prayers and heartfelt condolences for those present. Quietly and fleetingly, we made our way to some of the funerals and understood that all o

Random Thoughts @ MyQueenstown #8 - Block 39A No More (The Removal of Block 39A Part I)

On 05 Apr 2011 | 8 Comments

On a Friday afternoon three weeks ago, several Bangladeshi workers, presumably from the Town Council, took their tool boxes to the lift lobby of Block 39A. In less than half an hour, they carried a metallic frame on their shoulders and placed it on a lorry parked in front of the apartment block. Farewell Block 39A The letterboxes The stretch of corrid

Random Thoughts @ MyQueenstown #7 - A New Coat of Paint

On 22 Mar 2011 | 1 Comments

The Point Blocks, along with 5 other blocks at Mei Ling Street were given a new coat of paint over the past week. The familiar combination of blue, yellow and orange was a thing of the past as these foreign workers toiled day and night, rain or shine to make Mei Ling Street "attractive again." White seems to be the "in" thing in Queenstown lately. Ten-store

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XXX Restricted Access @ MyQueenstown #8 - Farewell Ayer Rajah Camp (Part II)

By my queenstown on Sunday, November 21, 2010 with 5 comments

Training to be soldiers, fight our land!
Once in our lives, two years of our time.
Have you wondered, why must we served?
Because we love our land and we want it to be free, to be free.

Two years of "blood and sweat" and two years of devotion to an obscure term called "defending the nation" can be a enormous opportunity cost for many young men in Singapore. Life is the army can be torturous for individuals who struggle  to make personal sacrifices to conform to the many regimental requirements. But life can also be enriching for those who made blossom friends and learn new skills at the camp. National Service came at the prime of every male Singaporeans' lives. One young man's personal endeavours and achievements can be summed up in his life in National Service. Today, let's make a final journey to Ayer Rajah Camp, which was closed in October 2010 for the development of One North.

The signs are all but removed

Foyer at OETI

The Ordnance Engineering Training Institution (OETI) was the most prominent unit or training school at Ayer Rajah Camp. This is the institution whcih groom many technicians and combat support staff to fix the army's wide array of sophisticated equipment and tanks. Formed in 1982, the OETI was established at Ayer Rajah Camp to succeed the Ordnance Maintenance Base (OMB) Traiing School and to undertake all ordnance training within the Army. 

Foyer at Ayer Rajah Camp

Where the Trainees will march.... at the Parade Square

The Workshop which has trained countless of technical support staff 

The Big Workshop Where Many trainees Got "Tekan" 

The tanks and equipment were all gone when Desmond Tan, 22, returned to OETI. This training school was where he learnt his skills to serve as a technician sergeant during his National Service. He recalled his platoon mates falling in the parade square every morning for roll call while waiting for the regulars to arrive and park their cars at the designated parking lots in the parade square. His lessons commenced at the workshop, where his enciks will demonstrate various maintenance procedures at the workshop. This was where he worked: 
Equipment at the Workshop

Stacked and ready to be moved away

One Final "Embrace"

Posters at the Work Shop

The Cook House was the favourite place for every Full-time National Serviceman (NSF). Besides the Tekong's Basic Military Training Camp (BMT), lunch time in cook house is the only period when NSFs can free themselves from the rigid routine and 'demanding' superiors. Of course, it's one of the few occasions when you get to ogle at female regular soldiers, who are lunching as well. The Cook House in Ayer Rajah Camp is particularly memorable for Desmond, who was gratified to "escape" from the "tough" training regime. He claims that the food offered at the cook house is wonderful and it makes him look forward to every lunch break!

Signs to the Cook House

Sorry, No More Food Today!

Have you remembered to scan your 11B?

Feedback on SFI Food

The Giant Refrigerator Where We Got Our "Ice" for Battalion Runs 

Goodbye Cook House =(

Stairs Leading to the Multi Purpose Hall Behind the Cook House

The Multi Purpose Hall was Where Talks are Held

Every morning or late afternoons, physical training will be conducted to train the soldiers' fitness and mental strength. In Ayer Rajah Camp, battalion-level or unit-level runs follow the parameters of the camp. "The camp is huge and the prospect of the run can be arduous. But when you complete them, the sense of achievement is wonderful." Trainings can be tougher before the Half Marathon (or full marathon) run conducted by SAFRA in July or August every year. Runs of up to 24km can be conducted. 

Runs along the parameter of the camp 

Lush and winding stretch of the Run


Road Signs Indicating the Directions of the Run

Some of the seminar lessons were held at the Headquarters of Maintenance and Engineering Support (HQ MES), a street across the OETI. The HQ MES also housed the bunks for stay-in personnel from OETI. Night Time is the only personal time that a soldier can have for himself. Showers, playing games or making phone calls to their loved ones - because he is unable to meet them face-to-face. 

HQ MES



Figurines at the Foyer of the Camp

Armskote Room.. Have you checked clear and oil your rifle?

Signs leading to the bunk rooms

Bunks and the familiar metallic Cupboards

Level 5 of the HQ MES was also the home (or bunk) for Desmond during his stay in the camp. Like every soldier, he holds fond memories of the camp despite "graduating" for many years. Life is a highway. Every single person we met along the way and every piece of memory etched make us who we are today. For those who had spent a part of their lives at Ayer Rajah Camp, who could forget the sights and the sounds? We tracked back to the guard house and looked back at the camp for one last time... Memories are made of these.

Goodbye Ayer Rajah Camp

You may wish to read the first part of the Farewell to Ayer Rajah Camp here!

All photos on the Ayer Rajah Camp are copyrighted and republication of any photos in this post is prohibited because of military laws. Please contact MINDEF or myqueenstown@gmail.com for more details.


POST COMMENT

5 comments:

Anonymous said...
November 22, 2010 at 4:16 PM

My mom used to worked as an attendant in the Tanglin Infant School next door. During school holidays, I would go with her to the school and roam about. Used to see those botaks being terkan and running around like monkeys. 14 yrs later, it was my turn to be the victims. But never got my revenge of terkaning the newbies. Thats almost 20 years ago..... What plans does the gov't have for these fine place ?

Jimmy Ng

Anonymous said...
November 24, 2010 at 2:10 PM

Fond memories of this camp.

12 years ago... this camp has the world's best mee rebus n chicken wing

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