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Red Cross Youth Change of Command 2008
Saturday, 2. August 2008By Red Cross Youth

 

Parade and Ceremony

The first-ever pinning of the “Director” epaulette – on the breezy and sunny morning of 28 June 2008 (Saturday) at the Raffles Institution (RI) grounds – marked a momentous chapter for Red Cross Youth (RCY). The simple, but solemn, act symbolized the official handing and taking over the Directorship of RCY from Mr Lau Hock Soon, the then Director, to Mr Ling Khoon Chow, the incoming Director.

The Witnessing Officer was Secretary-General of the SRC, Mr Christopher Chua. Distinguished guests included Mr Tee Tua Bah, Chairman-Designate, Singapore Red Cross (SRC), Mrs Shirley Yeo, immediate past Director of the RCY, Mr Yap Meng Seng, Assistant Director (Uniformed Groups), Co-Curricular Activities Branch, Ministry of Education, and Superintendant Rosalind Khoo, Commandant, National Police Cadet Corps.

Mr Ling had in his address outlined - for his term of Directorship - the following broad goals:

  1. Increase the global outlook of our cadets through RCY's international programmes,
  2. Imbue cadets with the values of compassion and selfless giving through humanitarian work,
  3. Implement improvements to the RCY, as recommended in Phase 1 of the Strategic Review Exercise, and 
  4. Increase membership and develop our volunteers.

Mr Ling reviewed a parade led by Parade Commander Youth Officer Wong Chee Yong, DAD (Cadets - West) and Chairperson, Healthy Lifestyles Focus Committee. The Guards of Honour were mounted by Volunteer Instructors and Trainees of the Unit Leaders' Programme. The supporting contingents for the parade were formed by the trainees of the Unit Leaders’ Programme. The parade also included marching contingents from nine secondary schools representing all other Red Cross units. The Change of Command Parade fittingly ended with an impressive march-past. 

Appreciation Dinner in Honour of Mr Lau Hock Soon

In the evening, volunteers and friends hosted a private dinner in appreciation of Mr Lau Hock Soon’s stewardship. Several could reminisce the many events which had his guiding hands. The little memento for him - a digital photo frame - captured some of those moments vividly for future replay. A good half of those present even adjourned to a karaoke session. Indeed, it was memorable day and evening for ... one and all!

Mr Lau Hock Soon

LAU_HOCK_SOON.png

The outgoing Director, Mr Lau, joined the SRC in 1977 as an RCY volunteer. He was very active in various volunteer projects and was tasked to start the Information Department in 1985. Mr Lau was subsequently promoted to Assistant Director of RCY in 1992 , appointed as Deputy Director in 1996 and as Director of RCY in 2001.

Mr Ling Khoon Chow

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The new Director of RCY, Mr Ling, joined the RCY as a Red Cross teacher in-charge of Raffles Institution (RI) Cadet Unit in June 1999. He became a Youth Officer (YO) in 2000. He assumed the role of District Assistant Director (DAD) of North District and remained active in RI Cadet Unit serving as a Volunteer Adult Leader (VAL) in 2001 even after stepping down as a YO. Mr Ling continued to grow in his involvement in RCY when he joined the Steering Committee in 2003. He was subsequently promoted to Assistant Director in 2005 and appointed as a Deputy Director in 2006.