I had been a Rotarian in District 3400, Indonesia, and upon returning to Singapore with my family, I joined the Rotary Club of Queenstown in 2016.

My Rotary journey began earlier, when I joined the Rotary Club of Gambir in Jakarta in August 1998. I later had the privilege of serving as Club President in Rotary year 2001–2002, under the theme "Mankind is Our Business", during the presidency of Richard D. King (Rotary International President Richard D. King in 2001-2002). Subsequently, I served as District Governor of RI District 3400 under the theme "Rotary Shares", during the presidency of Wilfrid J. Wilkinson (2007-2008). In 2011, after helping to found a new club, I transferred my membership to the Rotary Club of Jakarta Sentral.

How has your personal journey with the club shaped your life over the years?

My Rotary journey spans 28 years, from being a Rotarian to serving as Club President, District Governor of District 3400, and contributing to various district committees in Districts 3400 and 3410, before joining the Rotary Club of Queenstown in 2016.

PDG Chris Chen, one of my DG classmates in 2007-2008, had invited me to join RC Queenstown. When I found out that PP Hans Jaeger, a former member in RC Jakarta Sentral, was also a member of RC Queenstown, I gladly took up the offer to join RC Queenstown.

My time with RC Queenstown has been marked by active involvement in club committees, activities, and meaningful engagement with fellow members. I have
also remained involved at the district level and currently serve on the District 3310 Council of Past District Governors.

Since mid-2024, due to mobility challenges related to knee issues, I have had to scale back my level of activity.

Can you share one of your most cherished memories from the early days of the club?

The warmth, kindness, and active spirit of RC Queenstown’s members have given me many cherished memories.

I particularly value the personal interactions and the time spent together during club and district activities, which created a strong sense of fellowship.

How did your family react when you first joined the Rotary Club? Have they supported your involvement over the years? Did your family ever participate in any Rotary events or projects?

events and projects. However, they have always been aware of and supportive of the activities I have undertaken with RC Queenstown, and they hold a positive view of the club’s work and values.   When I became a member of RC Queenstown in 2016, their direct participation was more limited, as my two sons were serving national service and later embarking on their careers, while my wife was fully engaged in her business activities in Singapore and abroad.

How did your professional life influence your work within the Rotary Club, and vice versa?

My professional experience as a conference and event organiser, and later in preschool education, equipped me with skills and networks that I was able to bring into my work within the Rotary Club, as well as at the district and international levels.

Were there any skills or experiences from your career that helped you contribute to the club’s growth or initiatives?

In particular, my ability to connect with people and build networks enabled me to introduce Rotary to my professional circles, contributing to membership growth and supporting various Rotary projects.

Did being a part of the Rotary network open up any unexpected opportunities in your profession?

Apart from the networking opportunities, there were no significant direct impacts on my professional career.

Have you ever had the chance to combine your personal interests with Rotary projects? If so, how?

Yes, particularly through projects focused on supporting the underprivileged, which align closely with my personal values.

What’s something you’ve always been passionate about, and how has Rotary allowed you to express or act on that passion?

I have always been passionate about helping those in need. Rotary has provided both the opportunities and the support to act on this commitment in a meaningful way.

How did you balance your family, career, and Rotary commitments over the years?

My family and career have always been my primary focus, and I approached my Rotary commitments in a way that complemented these responsibilities.

Was there ever a time when you considered stepping back from Rotary, and what made you stay?

Only when health-related challenges arose. Otherwise, my commitment to Rotary and its values has remained strong.

What were the most significant challenges the club faced during its inception, and how were they overcome?

One of the key challenges was building strong membership growth while encouraging active participation. This was addressed by fostering a culture of engagement, where members actively contributed to fellowship, activities, and service projects.

How has the Rotary Club evolved in its mission, membership, and activities over the past 50 years?

The club has evolved very well across all three areas, with steady growth in membership, a strengthened commitment to its mission, and an increasingly dynamic range of activities and projects.

Are there any notable milestones or events in the club’s history that you feel particularly proud of?

I am especially proud of the times when the club was recognised among the top contributors to The Rotary Foundation, as well as for its strong membership and active engagement within the district.

Can you highlight a project or initiative that you feel had the most impact on the community?

Rotary’s global Polio eradication initiative stands out as one of the most impactful, alongside projects such as the Bhakti Luhur Orphanage, which has made a meaningful difference at the community level.

How has the club’s approach to serving the community changed over time?

The club has been very effective in delivering short-term annual projects such as Nurses Day, Willing Hearts, and Oktoberfest at the Anglican Care Centre. At the same time, there is growing potential in longer-term initiatives, such as the Bhakti Luhur Orphanage project, which offer more sustained impact.

What do you think sets the Rotary Club of Queenstown apart from other service organizations?

Our strong commitment to active service projects, both in Singapore and internationally, including Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Myanmar, sets us apart. In addition, our diverse membership and strong regional connections enhance both our reach and effectiveness.

What values of Rotary do you think have stood the test of time?

The enduring values of Rotary are diversity, friendship, and service.

Diversity is reflected in the wide range of nationalities and professional backgrounds within our membership, strengthening our ability to respond to community needs.

Friendship lies at the heart of Rotary. The fellowship among members fosters close relationships and enhances our collective ability to serve, while promoting tolerance across cultures and backgrounds.

Service remains our core purpose. Through our projects and programmes, we deepen our understanding of community needs while creating meaningful impact and fulfilment.

How do you see the legacy of the club being carried forward by the younger generation of members?

It is essential to involve new and younger members in our activities and programmes as early as possible. Through active participation, they will come to understand the club’s mission and legacy, and develop a strong commitment to contributing meaningfully.

Looking back at your journey with RCQ, what advice would you give to your younger self to enhance that experience?

I would encourage myself to be actively involved in the club’s activities and programmes from the outset. This is the best way to fully appreciate RC Queenstown’s culture and mission, and to find both purpose and enjoyment in being an engaged member.

What advice would you give to new members looking to make a lasting impact in the Rotary Club?

Get involved early and wholeheartedly. Active participation is the key to making a meaningful and lasting contribution.

If you could give one piece of advice to someone considering joining the Rotary movement, what would it be?

Join Rotary to become part of a vibrant and diverse network of individuals from different nationalities, professions, and backgrounds, united by a shared commitment to service, both locally and internationally.

Are there any humorous or unexpected moments from your time in the club that you’d like to share?

There have been many humorous and memorable moments over the years, though none that I can single out in particular. It is the accumulation of these shared experiences that has made my Rotary journey so enjoyable and meaningful.

Who has been the most influential person you’ve met through your Rotary journey, and why?

One of the most influential individuals I had the privilege of meeting was the late Past RI President Bichai Rattakul (2002–2003), whose theme was "Sow the Seed of Love". He joined the Rotary Club of Dhonburi, Bangkok, in 1953 and later served as District Governor in 1963.

He was widely admired as an exceptional orator and a leader of great integrity, honesty, and kindness. His example left a lasting impression on me.