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Introduction
"We are extremely lucky to be living in an environment that is so diverse and
exciting from a cultural, historical and "just plain living" point of view.
It is pleasing to see that the staff have continued to grasp the opportunities
offered by that environment to try to stimulate their pupils' minds and widen their horizons.
the School for Gurkha children at Mount Vernon."
M F McD Palmer
We remember significant events in history that change the way we view life!
Singapore is remembered by the BRATS
We all had followed our military parents, moving to a new camp, going to a new school, making new friends & investigating our new surroundings but nothing prepared us for a different country, for Singapore! The food was different, the languages were different & it was a different way of living.
The 80's were a time of of change & there were some big ones in Singapore. More high rises were built in & around the city, Changi airport opened its doors in Dec 1981, the MRT was the way to view the sights. 1987 was the 30th anniversary of New Zealands occupation in Singapore & sadly in 1989 it all ended, the agreement between the New Zealand & Singapore Governments had been fulfilled. It was time to bring the troops home.
These changes didn’t go un-noticed by the military dependants living in Singapore. In 1980 the Australian Government finalized the re-deployment of their troops back to Australia & by the end of 1981; New Zealand became the sole occupier of Singapore. Tengah Primary closed its doors also in 1980 & the remaining students were welcomed at NZ Services School Woodlands.
But the changes didn’t end there, the authorities that be, decided that the school (NZ Services School Woodlands) needed updating too, after all it was the 80’s, so in came a new name ‘NZ Forces School Sembawang’. The uniform was changed also, for the primary girls the white with green spots changed to a blue dress & the boys from green shorts to blue ones. The high school girls went from a blue dress to a white blouse with a blue skirt & the boys blue shorts. These were designed by one of the high school students*.
With all these changes, life for the BRATS carried on; we went to school, played our sport, met with friends in the weekend, we were use to change. Singapore for the brats will always remain the same though, we each had experienced what Singapore had to offer & we did it together, as BRATS.
Singapore is remembered by the BRATS, not for the changes it made in history but for the changes it made in us.
Rachel Fenton
79 - 81
82 - 84
