16 Years of Bringing Residents Together at Telok Blangah
Text by: Tan Yi Shu and Wang Shi Ying
Tucked away in a secluded area of the quiet estate, is a nondescript building that passersby would not be faulted for missing. Flanked on both sides by much taller structures, its seclusion is helped on by a long, unsheltered carpark that separates it from the main street. Even its address — 450 Telok Blangah Street 31 — is hardly memorable, even for the most frequent of visitors.
And what building might that be?
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Chances are that Telok Blangah Community Club (TBCC) did not come to mind; it lives in almost a world of its own. Put another way, unless a resident is intentional about going there, he or she might spend years living in Telok Blangah without ever going past it.
“Yes, yes,” Elgene Tan, a Constituency Management Executive at TBCC, agreed amicably. “In the recent mask distribution exercises, we had several long-time residents telling us that it was their very first time here.”
Yet, despite its unassuming location and exterior, TBCC has, over the decades, steadfastly played the all-important role of chief organiser, promoter, and host of community events in Telok Blangah. From massive community dinners to small-scale outings, from administrative help to interest groups, from sports activities to masks distributions — the CC has seen it all, done it all. It might not be as well-loved as hawker centres or as well-visited as HDBs, but its value in bringing residents together and bonding the community is quite simply redoubtable.
For Elgene, who has always thrived in a communal setting, the CC has been his second home for the last 16 years. Given the job’s nature of shift work, “home” is no exaggeration, as he has spent countless evenings and weekends there. For someone who had spent more than a decade as a tour guide both locally and overseas in his younger days, what drew him into community work? What aspects of it does he enjoy the most? As a first-generation Telok Blangahian, what are his memories of the place?
This is his story.
Organising Events for the Community
Community Clubs started off as places that provided essential services such as clerical help, as well as functional services for residents to enjoy community bonding or group leisure. While modern-day CCs take on a much-expanded role, the core services have not changed very much. Elgene’s day-to-day tasks used to be manning the front counter, answering inquiries, and helping to book courses. In the recent year, some additions to his daily routine include helping seniors make vaccine appointments and facilitating mask and TraceTogether token distributions.
“I think the job is a good fit for my personality. I like interaction, I like serving residents. I was influenced in my younger years, where I played for the CC’s basketball team and served in the resident’s committee. I got to speak with the CC staff occasionally; I could tell they had the heart for residents, which is something I feel strongly for too.”
Among his favourite portfolio is organising activities for senior residents so that they get to know each other and bond. In regaling this aspect of work, Elgene’s enthusiasm clearly shone through, as his usual stoicism gave way to satisfied smiles and chuckles as he recalled some of the events.
One of his pet stories was when he brought 95 senior residents to Sakae Sushi for lunch, after they had finished the Duck Tour. Prior to the outing, he had advised the outlet manager to call in more chefs that day, as he knew from experience that this group of seniors had a hearty appetite. However, she did not think it was necessary, as seniors did not usually eat much.
She was quickly proven wrong on that day.
When the buffet started, sushi plates were swept off the conveyor belt faster than they could be replenished, to a point where residents seated behind only saw empty lines. Not only did the restaurant have to scramble to prepare cooked food for them, but they also had to increase the pace at which they refreshed the belt. The minutes flew by quickly, and after 1.5 hours, none of the seniors had even stood up — many were still eating heartily.
“The outlet manager later told me that she regretted not heeding my advice, as those in the kitchen were overworked. One chef even asked her, ‘Where did this group of senior residents come from? How is it possible they can eat so fast and so much?’
For Elgene, it was most satisfying to see his participants enjoying themselves, especially for those who tasted Japanese cuisine for the first time. Some had even shared with him that they liked the food very much, and that they would definitely visit again one day.
A Feast for the Eyes
While food is undeniably a big draw, the outings are always more than just that. Another memorable event was a stargazing session at the Singapore Science Centre. On the way there, the seniors had asked Elgene why there was a need to go there to see the stars and the moon, when they could see it every night from their windows. Their lukewarm interest was apparent.
That sentiment quickly changed after they arrived. Using high-powered telescopes at the Science Centre, the seniors were treated to an evening of Saturn’s rings, Mars’ reddish surface, and the Moon’s many craters. For most of them, it was the first time seeing these cosmic wonders in glorious detail. By the end of the evening, they were all gushing at the unexpected beauty and vastness of space.
“I asked them if they managed to spot Chang’E on the moon. They were enjoying the session so much that I would not have been surprised if they said yes,” Elgene grinned.
Another highlight was going to a museum that many of his participants had never heard of — the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum. Elgene was initially a little hesitant about organising a trip there, as the seniors usually preferred activities that revolved around food or shopping. But he still decided to take the plunge in the end.
“I thought the seniors would get bored after one hour. I was worried they would wander away, and it would be hard to gather them back. But the guides — most were seniors themselves — had such interesting stories to tell about the exhibits that the seniors stuck to them like glue for more than two hours!”
Indeed, good guides have the ability to help a place burst into life with sights otherwise unseen and sounds not heard. As a fan of this particular museum, I was glad to hear that the seniors enjoyed themselves there. Singapore may be small, but there are many lesser-known gems such as this.
The Importance of Being Curious
Even though Telok Blangah is in the far south, Elgene does not let distance deter him. After all, even the furthest of places from here could be reached in about 45 minutes. That is why he has organised trips to all four corners of Singapore, such as Woodlands Waterfront Park, Changi Chapel and Museum, Singapore Discovery Centre, Gardens by the Bay, the Malay Heritage Centre, and Jewel (Elegene is very proud of the fact that they were there within months of its opening).
How does Elgene, almost a senior citizen himself at 59, come up with such a varied offering of attractions and restaurants for his participants? According to him, it is about having the curiosity to check out new places, and the passion and verve to let residents try out something different.
“My family used to laugh at how I could never sit still when we dined out. I would always be walking around and talking to store owners, trying to find new places to bring residents to. When you enjoy your work, it is never far from your mind.”
Citing the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum as an example, Elgene said that he too had never heard of the museum until he attended a company event there. After exploring the place, he thought it might be a good place to bring the senior residents too. It is as he said: serving the residents is never far from his mind!
Thank You, Family
At the end of the day, Elgene is thankful for the support his wife and two children have given him all these years — particularly given that his job requires him to work shifts. He is also appreciative of how they would sometimes volunteer at his events as ushers, goodie bag packers, and even with creating digital backdrops. In the recent mask and token distribution exercises, all three of them were involved in some way.
“My boss used to joke that it’s worthwhile paying my salary, because he gets the help of three additional headcounts in return,” Elgene chuckled.
As a mature estate with many senior citizens, Elgene’s wish is for more residents in Telok Blangah to take part in the CC’s events and keep up with an active lifestyle. Such events, with their planned activities, make for great family bonding time and also allow them to know other families in the neighbourhood. Increasingly, Elgene has seen grandparents bringing their children and grandchildren along for these outings. He encourages residents to keep a lookout for lift lobby posters and big banners hung outside the CC (opposite the bus stop) that publicise these activities, or to visit the RCs or CCs regularly to get the latest upcoming events.
“Or, just stay in touch with fellow senior residents in the area,” he advised. “Word of mouth is still one of the most popular ways of getting event news.”
From Islander to Mainland Singapore
Elgene’s ties with Telok Blangah run deep; he can be considered as one of the pioneers of the area, having moved here in the 1970s with his parents into the first batches of housing blocks. Like everyone else, he was enamoured of modern-day facilities such as lifts and rubbish chutes, as well as high-rise living. But it was not all sunshine and roses. Prior to moving, his family of 12 — parents and nine other siblings — lived kampong style in a sparse but huge village house at Pulau Brani, just off the coast of Sentosa.
“Our house was probably as big as the void deck of a long HDB block — we had a lot of space! But when we moved to Telok Blangah, 12 of us had to squeeze into a three-bedroom flat… about four to a room. So whenever I hear people say that modern-day BTOs are too small for their family of four, I tell them, their square metre per capita is actually a lot more,” he laughed.
As an islander back then, life was carefree. On weekdays, Elgene took daily boat rides to mainland Singapore for school. On weekends, he spent many hours idling by Pulau Brani’s mostly empty beaches and forests with his friends and siblings. They were involved in recreational activities such as playing marbles, catching spiders, and on occasions, free swimming for thirty minutes to Sentosa. Free swimming, with no life jackets, safety lines, or patrol boats. What happens if they get cramps or are tired along the way?
“There would always be a few fishing sampans around. We would just swim up to one and rest for a while,” he grinned.
Elgene also has fond memories of dinner gatherings on the island.
“Mainlander friends would sometimes come over for barbecues. As dusk fell, the first-timers would ask, ‘Where is the food? What do we have for barbecue?’ I would then point out to sea and say, ‘You see that light drawing nearer to shore? That’s the sampan coming back with your freshly caught seafood.’”
As a first-generation Telok Blangahian, Elgene spent some time sharing about how it was like in the past; stories of Singapore’s lesser developed side never fail to delight me. For instance, newer residents typically do not realise that Mount Faber and Telok Blangah Hill used to be joined together as a contiguous green forest; it was the green corridor before today’s Green Corridor. Even Depot Road — such a convenient shortcut to get between Telok Blangah and Queensway — was a relatively recent development.
“It used to be a one-way road. If you wanted to get from Depot to Queensway then, either you make a detour via Bukit Merah, or you can hike up and over the steep hill standing between the two areas,” he recalled.
Depot is also where he calls home now, after moving out from Telok Blangah to start his own family. His living room has a stunning view of lush greenery; the air being exceedingly fresh, the nature sounds soothing. And on certain nights, it gets colder than even an air-conditioned room. Not that he is complaining, of course.
“I love it here,” he said. “Like Telok Blangah, it is a very comfortable, peaceful area.”
It is always a pleasure to speak with someone who enjoys his work, family, and home. As a beneficiary of many of TBCC’s activities over the decades — bursaries, facilities, interest groups, and more, I am extremely grateful for all the work Elgene and the dedicated CC staff have put in. Wishing them all the best with many more good years of serving the Telok Blangah community ahead!
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Writer’s note: The interview was conducted mostly in Mandarin and translated into English.
Photos of activities are by Elgene; the events took place prior to COVID-19.
