- Lt Gen (Ret) Winston Choo honoured for 12 years of dedicated service to the Singapore Red Cross
- Three teens win all-new SRC President’s Youth Award
- Veterans recognised for volunteer work in past local disasters
In celebration of World Red Cross Day 2013, the Singapore Red Cross (SRC) today announced the winners of the inaugural Singapore Red Cross Awards1, which recognise the contributions of volunteers and partners who have given selflessly of their time, expertise and resources to further SRC’s mission2.
Red Cross Youth (RCY) Tan Peng Sheng, 16, Jo Jun Yeup and Ezra Cheyne Sereneo, both 17, are the first recipients of the SRC President’s Youth Award, named after SRC Patron, President Tony Tan Keng Yam. They were carefully chosen from over a hundred nominees based on wide-ranging criteria that included leadership qualities, global perspectives, excellence in academics and service to RCY.
RCY leaders Jun Yeup and Peng Sheng were role models to their juniors, often staying past school or CCA time to offer a helping hand to those in need. Their dedication earned their teachers’ affirmation and the respect of their peers. Filipino Ezra overcame cultural barriers and excelled in both her RCY responsibilities and schoolwork – not only was she promoted from the Normal (Technical) stream to the Normal (Academic) stream, she also became a leader in her school’s RCY unit and played an instrumental role in helping the unit to excel, including becoming champions in the National Foot-drill Competition.
Also recognised for their contributions in furthering the cause of humanity were Lt Gen (Ret) Winston Choo and the Lee Foundation, both recipients of the prestigious SRC Humanitarian Award. Lt Gen (Ret) Choo served as SRC Chairman for 12 years until he stepped down in 2008. He played an instrumental role in the expansion of SRC’s work beyond Singapore. He led the SRC’s response to disasters in the region and beyond, and served as the Chairman of the Tsunami Reconstruction Facilitation Committee (TRFC), which managed the disbursement of S$89 million in Tidal Waves Asia Fund to 69 reconstruction and rehabilitation projects spanning Indonesia, Sri Lanka and the Maldives. The Lee Foundation has contributed generously in support of the local services of the SRC over many years.
“Our achievements over the past 64 years bear testament to the collective power of humanity. I regard volunteerism and partnerships as the cornerstones of our mission to serve humanity and save lives, and these awards are our way of saying ‘Thank you’. I hope the accolades would go some way in inspiring others to join the Red Cross Movement,” said Mr Tee Tua Ba, SRC Chairman and an avid volunteer himself.
The Singapore Red Cross, a local humanitarian organisation, also lauded the winners of two SRC Distinguished Service Awards, three SRC Outstanding Service Awards, 15 SRC Commendation Awards, and four Friends of SRC Awards.
Active volunteers Mr Tang Chun Tuck (SRC Outstanding Service Award), Mr Kek Siew Kok and Mr Wan Fook Kum (both SRC Commendation Award) were amongst the recipients of these awards. The veterans have all contributed significantly towards furthering the mission of the SRC over the past decades; at 76 Mr Kek is SRC’s oldest volunteer, while Mr Tang has volunteered for close to 50 years. All three were previously deployed for operations in local disasters such as the Spyros disaster and the Hotel New World collapse, rendering aid by driving ambulances to ferry survivors to hospitals and providing psycho-social support to survivors and the families of the deceased.
The Friend of SRC Award is being given to organisations that have been supportive of the SRC. Employees of Barclays in 2012 volunteered as project managers for the Singapore Red Cross Academy @ Atrium and mobilised its partners to give close to S$300,000 worth of donations in-kind to develop the space, an endeavour by the community, for the community. In the same year, Barclays also donated office furnishings to the Red Cross House and rallied its employees to transform the children’s dormitory at the Red Cross Home for the Disabled.
All the SRC Award winners will receive their awards at a ceremony to be held on 22 May 2013. The Guest of Honour at the SRC Awards Ceremony will be President Tony Tan Keng Yam, Patron of the Singapore Red Cross.