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Club Buzz

HomeTeamNS Bedok Reservoir: Embarking on a new chapter in the East

The new HomeTeamNS Bedok Reservoir clubhouse will offer members a bigger space, with upsized fun and even more family-friendly facilities and activities to enjoy.

TEXT NUR ADLINA BINTE ADAM

PHOTOS HOMETEAMNS

After six years, HomeTeamNS Tampines officially closed its doors on July 17, 2022. The much-loved clubhouse is moving to a bigger and better home – HomeTeamNS Bedok Reservoir – in December 2022, with expanded facilities and attractions.

With close to one-third of HomeTeamNS members residing in the East, the reservoir-fronting clubhouse will be the new hotspot for them to play and bond with their loved ones. From a splashing good time at the Indoor Water Adventure Centre to retreating into nature at the East Villas, there’s plenty to get excited about and look forward to!

THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES

Through the years, HomeTeamNS Tampines hosted numerous cohesion activities for Home Team NSmen to forge a sense of camaraderie.

HomeTeamNS Tampines clubhouse was home to signature facilities such as Clip ‘n Climb, an action-packed theme park, and Laser Quest, an exhilarating infrared laser shooting arena. Since 2017, the clubhouse has been the go-to place for HomeTeamNS members to forge bonds and create wonderful memories with their loved ones in the East, be it a weekend outing or a birthday party.

The clubhouse hosted over 960 cohesion programmes for Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) agencies and HomeTeamNS. Other key events such as SkillFest — where junior HomeTeamNS members worked on expanding their skill sets including athletics, social and emotional learning, and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) — were also conducted at the clubhouse.

Goodbye does not always mark the end of a chapter but also paves the way for a new beginning. HomeTeamNS members in the East can look forward to more amenities and attractions at HomeTeamNS Bedok Reservoir, which are designed to enhance the fun and quality time you have with loved ones.

EASTIES, SUIT UP!

An Indoor Water Adventure Centre will feature wet and dry activities that are fun for children and adults.

If you thought the facilities at Tampines clubhouse were great, then the ones at the highly anticipated waterfront-themed clubhouse will keep you awestruck.

Easties, get ready for Singapore’s first and largest Indoor Water Adventure Centre, Aqua Adventure. Perfect for the young and young at heart, the two-storey aquatic escape brings ‘chills or thrills’ to life with both wet and dry activities. From a multi-challenges aqua course and a lagoon pool to Urban Climbing Walls, you’ll experience the best of both worlds in this all-weather facility.

With various programmes and packages at this facility, members can celebrate their special occasions such as birthdays and graduations with thematic pool parties! On top of that, Home Team NSmen can also form friendships through team-bonding activities and cohesion programmes.

NATURE-BOUND STAYCATION

Rest and rejuvenate at HomeTeamNS Bedok Reservoir’s East Villas.

Need an escape from the hustle and bustle of the city? In the thick of fresh foliage and greenery, sits the East Villas. Set on a hill slope, these cosy huts will leave you recharged and rejuvenated during your stay

Ranging from Premier and Deluxe Waterfront Villas to Deluxe Forest View Villas, members will be spoiled for choice amid their lush surroundings. Spice things up as you set your eyes on the breathtaking views of Bedok Reservoir from the roof balconies — and capture dream-worthy Insta-moments — while you cook up a delectable barbecue dinner.

The villas will also be stocked with coffee and tea sachets to perk up your morning and get you ready for another day of fun. If you want to stay indoors, use the kitchenette to whip up home-cooked meals that will warm the bellies and hearts of your family. Other amenities such as fresh towels and bathroom essentials will also be made available.

To maximise family time and make full use of all the facilities at HomeTeamNS Bedok Reservoir, we highly recommend that you book a stay at the East Villas!

More information on the facilities and amenities will be unveiled soon! Visit our website and Facebook page for the latest updates.

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In The Force

NS55: Different eras, same undertaking

In celebration of NS55, a father-in-law and son-in-law duo share their National Service experiences.

TEXT: MHA

PHOTO: JEREMY LIM

Full-time National Service (NS) is an essential part of our nationhood and a rite of passage for every Singaporean son. While the NS landscape may have evolved over the decades, the experience each enlistee goes through is unforgettable and one that is shared from generation to generation.

Father-in-law and son duo, Neo Thiam Loon, 67, and Volunteer Special Constabulary (VSC) officer, Sgt 3 (V) Lim Jun Wei Jeremy, 34, can attest to this. Both have served their NS with unwavering dedication, pride and strength to keep Singapore safe and peaceful. And both have stories to tell.

KEEPING OUR STREETS SAFE

Mr Lim served with the Singapore Police Force (SPF) as a frontline Ground Response Force (GRF) officer. As he was deployed to Choa Chu Kang Neighbourhood Police Centre (NPC), his duties include patrolling the neighbourhood and responding to incidents and disputes.

“Serving NS with the SPF was an eye-opening experience and, I dare say, one of the most defining moments of my life,” says the VSC officer. “I remember a mother who called the Police for assistance when her son went missing. We were activated to search for the boy and within a few hours, we found him and returned him home. It was really heartening to see the family reunited,” he adds.

EVOLVING WITH THE TIMES

From the days of tougher training regimes and stricter commanders to lengthy queues at the payphone to make calls home, NS has evolved with advancements in technology, better welfare and a changing threat environment.

On the technological front, Mr Lim points out that his law-enforcing duties have been made easier with devices such as body-worn cameras and neighbourhood police cameras that improve the effectiveness and efficiency of policing. On the other hand, frontline officers face greater public scrutiny when carrying out their roles, as social media is now a significant part of our daily lives.

Mr Neo, who served his NS in 1978, was free from such concerns but his cohort faced a different set of challenges. “Basic Military Training (BMT) was very different from what we see on television today. It was ‘tough love’ as some may call it, but conditions have changed. And a different generation of crimes and offenses warrants a different kind of training,” says the NS pioneer, who served as a Lance Corporal Regimental Police with the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF).

Mr Neo also recalls queueing up for the orange payphone to make calls to his family during his recruit days. “You cannot drop in another 10 cents to extend your call as there are many others waiting in line behind you,” he says.

Compared to the ’70s, Mr Neo agrees that servicemen now enjoy better accommodation, food and monthly allowance, as well as have caring commanders who spend time getting to know the recruits under their charge. But when it comes to sacrifice, resilience, pride and first-time experiences, there is little difference across generations. “The most memorable part of NS would be the experience of firing a rifle at the live firing range. Not forgetting all those days in the jungle for field training and surviving them without showering for numerous days,” says Mr Neo.

CARRY ON SERVING

As an Operationally Ready NSman, Mr Lim serves as a Police Contact Tactics (PCT) Adjunct Trainer with the Jurong Police Division, as well as volunteering with the VSC under the Traffic Police. He believes his NS stint has taught him important values that have shaped him and encouraged him to continue serving the nation through volunteering.

“NS taught me three main values – responsibility (having a great sense of pride and duty to serve the nation), resilience (staying optimistic through hard times) and reinstatement (restoring peace to the public so that everyone can live in a better environment),” says Mr Lim.

In response to his son-in-law’s role as a Home Team volunteer, Mr Neo says: “I am very proud and supportive of Jeremy’s decision to be part of the Home Team Volunteer Network (HTVN). As a Home Team volunteer, he demonstrates his servant leadership by going above and beyond the call of duty.”

Mr Lim encourages everyone to do likewise – to make a difference and contribute back to society.

Find out more how you can make a difference in your community. Volunteer with the Home Team Volunteer Network today!

Categories
Club Buzz

Great NS55 deals and activities with HomeTeamNS

Celebrate NS55 at HomeTeamNS with lucky draws and the 55 Jalan HomeTeamNS Trail.

TEXT: MELODY TAN

PHOTOS: HOMETEAMNS

If you’re looking for fresh, fun activities for the family, why not try some HomeTeamNS-inspired events?

Whether it’s an afternoon of fun with the kids at your nearest HomeTeamNS clubhouse or venturing on an NS55 trivia-filled trail with your buddies, there’s something for everyone to look forward to.

SIGN UP FOR MEMBERSHIP – AND THE SALUTE55 LUCKY DRAW

If you aren’t a HomeTeamNS member, now is a good time to sign up. And you may just receive a “sur-prize” as well, thanks to the Salute55 Lucky Draw.

Until December 2022, all eligible HomeTeamNS members can enjoy an 86-per-cent discount on their membership with the NS55 promotion. Here’s your chance to ride on the sweet deal of extending your membership for an additional three-year membership at just S$10.

On top of that, take advantage of the 50% savings when you sign up your family members, and enjoy all the similar benefits as your HomeTeamNS membership. At only $10 for two years of membership for your parents, your spouse or child, and subsequent family members can be added absolutely free! Moreover, options for 5-year and 10-year Family Membership are also available. 

Additionally, all sign-ups for the NS55 membership promotion are eligible for one entry to the Salute55 Lucky Draw, which offers exciting prizes every month. Those who sign up for the 50-per-cent discounted Family Membership receive an additional entry, and each additional child in the family membership package adds one more entry to your overall total.

Even if you don’t win, your entries are accumulated and will be entered in subsequent draws. While the winner of August’s draw walked away with a Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G smart phone, and September’s winner won a Series 7 Apple Watch with GPS, October’s winner will stand a chance to win an Apple Airpods (3rd Generation)! Watch this space to see what’s in store for you in the upcoming months.

GO ON A TRAIL, ENRICHED BY TRIVIA

Our National Servicemen (NSmen) play an important role in keeping Singapore safe and secure every day – a role that’s celebrated in the 55 Jalan HomeTeamNS Trail, which features interesting fun facts about National Service hidden across HomeTeamNS clubhouses.

Participants will look for a trail marker in the form of a standee at each clubhouse they visit. Once they find the trail marker, they can scan the QR code on it for instructions on how to answer a question and upload a linked photo on Google Forms.

Once they’re done, participants can show the uploaded form to the front counter of the clubhouse along with their HomeTeamNS membership card to receive a participation token.

That’s not all: Participants will also stand a chance to win attractive prizes including a PRISM+ X340 PRO 165Hz (a 34-inch ultrawide curved gaming monitor), a two-day, one-night staycation at the HomeTeamNS Bedok Reservoir Villas, and vouchers. The NS55 Trail runs between 14 September to 31 October 2022.

With these fun events to look forward to, the year looks set to be an exciting one at HomeTeamNS!