<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR>See how much better the Papayas treat u if u've the guts to call it quit?
11,000 gather in Melbourne to celebrate Singapore Day
</TR><!-- headline one : end --><!-- Author --><TR><TD class="padlrt8 georgia11 darkgrey bold" colSpan=2>By Jamie Ee Wen Wei
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A Singaporean living in Melbourne collecting a Singapore Day goodie bag from a volunteer. There are about 40,000 Singaporeans living in Australia. -- PHOTO: DANIEL LEE
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<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->Melbourne - He may have left Singapore five years ago for a change of lifestyle in Melbourne but Mr Mano Doray said he is still 'very Singaporean'.
So when he heard that Singapore Day was coming to the Australian city, the sales representative made sure that he and his family came early - at 10am - to soak in the sights, sounds and tastes of Singapore.
'We miss the food, we miss speaking in Singlish, like hor and wah lau,' said the 46-year-old.
Yesterday, over 11,000 Singaporeans from Melbourne and other parts of Australia and New Zealand gathered at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl to attend the event organised by the Overseas Singaporean Unit (OSU).
The turnout was almost double that of the first Singapore Day held in New York last year, which drew about 6,000 Singaporeans.
There are about 40,000 Singaporeans living in Australia, with about 10,000 based in Melbourne.
Many headed straight for the food stalls where hawkers from Food Republic whipped up favourites like char kway teow, chilli crab and roti prata.
Mr Lim Thiam Seng, 35, an auditor working in Melbourne, waited for 30 minutes for his Hainanese chicken rice. 'I cook a lot of Singapore food here but the taste is always different from home.'
Themed Rekindle and Rediscover, the park was transformed into a mini-Singapore with areas like Newton Circus and Clarke Quay. Singlish-speaking contractor Phua Chu Kang and his family, from the hit TV show, put up a skit.
Prominent home-grown artists such as Dick Lee, Singapore Idol Hady Mirza and rock band Electrico also performed.
The crowd also got a first-hand glimpse of the evolving cityscape at the new downtown via interactive display models. Students and professionals took the opportunity to meet employers from the private and public sectors.
Children got to experience the new learning environment through sample lessons conducted by four primary school teachers from Singapore.
Ms Dorine Lim, 37, a human resource executive from Melbourne, said she was surprised by the change: 'It's more interactive, the teachers try to engage the students more.'
Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng, the guest of honour, was also there to touch base with the overseas Singaporeans.
Asked about overseas Singaporeans who do not wish to return home, he said: 'I think there needs to be an emotional connection for those who decide to stay and hopefully one day they will find reason to come back, for family, parents, siblings or friends perhaps.'
In the evening, 400 guests were treated to a specially created dinner by the Singapore Chefs Association at the Melbourne Town Hall. Mr Wong also gave a speech in which he reiterated the importance of Singaporeans overseas to stay connected with home. There are about 150,000 overseas Singaporeans spread across the globe.
OSU director Roy Quek hinted that the Singapore Day next year may be held in London. Already, the Singaporean community there has set up a Facebook group to gather support for the event.
11,000 gather in Melbourne to celebrate Singapore Day
</TR><!-- headline one : end --><!-- Author --><TR><TD class="padlrt8 georgia11 darkgrey bold" colSpan=2>By Jamie Ee Wen Wei
</TD></TR><!-- show image if available --><TR vAlign=bottom><TD width=330>
</TD><TD width=10>
A Singaporean living in Melbourne collecting a Singapore Day goodie bag from a volunteer. There are about 40,000 Singaporeans living in Australia. -- PHOTO: DANIEL LEE
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->Melbourne - He may have left Singapore five years ago for a change of lifestyle in Melbourne but Mr Mano Doray said he is still 'very Singaporean'.
So when he heard that Singapore Day was coming to the Australian city, the sales representative made sure that he and his family came early - at 10am - to soak in the sights, sounds and tastes of Singapore.
'We miss the food, we miss speaking in Singlish, like hor and wah lau,' said the 46-year-old.
Yesterday, over 11,000 Singaporeans from Melbourne and other parts of Australia and New Zealand gathered at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl to attend the event organised by the Overseas Singaporean Unit (OSU).
The turnout was almost double that of the first Singapore Day held in New York last year, which drew about 6,000 Singaporeans.
There are about 40,000 Singaporeans living in Australia, with about 10,000 based in Melbourne.
Many headed straight for the food stalls where hawkers from Food Republic whipped up favourites like char kway teow, chilli crab and roti prata.
Mr Lim Thiam Seng, 35, an auditor working in Melbourne, waited for 30 minutes for his Hainanese chicken rice. 'I cook a lot of Singapore food here but the taste is always different from home.'
Themed Rekindle and Rediscover, the park was transformed into a mini-Singapore with areas like Newton Circus and Clarke Quay. Singlish-speaking contractor Phua Chu Kang and his family, from the hit TV show, put up a skit.
Prominent home-grown artists such as Dick Lee, Singapore Idol Hady Mirza and rock band Electrico also performed.
The crowd also got a first-hand glimpse of the evolving cityscape at the new downtown via interactive display models. Students and professionals took the opportunity to meet employers from the private and public sectors.
Children got to experience the new learning environment through sample lessons conducted by four primary school teachers from Singapore.
Ms Dorine Lim, 37, a human resource executive from Melbourne, said she was surprised by the change: 'It's more interactive, the teachers try to engage the students more.'
Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng, the guest of honour, was also there to touch base with the overseas Singaporeans.
Asked about overseas Singaporeans who do not wish to return home, he said: 'I think there needs to be an emotional connection for those who decide to stay and hopefully one day they will find reason to come back, for family, parents, siblings or friends perhaps.'
In the evening, 400 guests were treated to a specially created dinner by the Singapore Chefs Association at the Melbourne Town Hall. Mr Wong also gave a speech in which he reiterated the importance of Singaporeans overseas to stay connected with home. There are about 150,000 overseas Singaporeans spread across the globe.
OSU director Roy Quek hinted that the Singapore Day next year may be held in London. Already, the Singaporean community there has set up a Facebook group to gather support for the event.
Why not watermelon or pineapple or kiwi...??
