Seng Guat Neo is a 65-year-old Singaporean and staff of the Eye Clinic at Tan Tock Seng Hospital. Born in Malacca, Malaysia, she graduated from Pay Fong High School, Malacca (1963). She obtained her higher education in the United Kingdom, graduating from St Andrews Hospital, London (1971), and obtaining the Diploma in Ophthalmology from Moorfield’s Eye Hospital, London (1972); and settled in Singapore thereafter.
Seng Guat Neo has contributed some 36 years of her experience to nursing in the ophthalmology field in Singapore. The quest for lifelong learning and the zest to contribute to society have always lain behind her active volunteerism. These also explain her choice to remain in the workforce well beyond her retirement age in Year 2000. Over the last 30 years, Guat Neo has participated in many community and volunteer groups. She also received a Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) commendation for services rendered in the Hotel New World Disaster rescue operations in 1986.
In order to stay relevant in the workforce, she took up IT and computing skills with the support and encouragement of her supervisor and colleagues. She constantly seeks opportunities to update herself on latest developments in the ophthalmic field. Guat Neo participated in the Ophthalmic Anaesthesia Course and Workshop held at the Alexandra Hospital in 2004. She also joined the International Federation on Ageing at the 7th Global Conference held at Suntec City Singapore, a multi-disciplinary conference on the aspects of aging engaged her interest.
Guat Neo believes in financial planning from a young age and is quick to point out to her younger colleagues that insurance policies are useful instruments to optimise their golden years. She has been a NTUC Income financial adviser for the past 2 decades, and advises her colleagues and friends on how and what sort of policy they should be looking at.
Even in adversity and illness, Guat Neo has persevered with a positive outlook, and strength of character. In the past year, she has converted to a part-time work scheme (3-day week) on health grounds. Her kidney dialysis treatment did not hinder her from continuing in community work up till today. In fact, her resilience inspired those around her. She was also able to draw on a warm and supportive family that she had herself nourished and developed over the years as a loving parent. Guat Neo believes that one should stay mentally alert, physically fit, socially active and spiritually attuned.
Guat Neo uses infocommunication technologies to stay in touch with her family and friends. Her IT skills help her communicate with her family members who periodically could be overseas for a long period of time. She is very determined to learn from the younger generation on new IT technology devices, such as advanced options in handphones to upload pictures from handphone to computer and vice versa. In fact, she is trying to learn how to handle an internet chat with her son abroad, and perhaps create her own blog site one day.
She practices Taiji, which is a low-impact exercise. She loves the fluidity of the movements that demand relaxation of muscles and concentration of the mind. She believes that apart from the physical benefits, this exercise also brings about a calm mind which is important for happiness and youthfulness. Her immersion in the physical, mental, social, emotional and spiritual spheres of life make her a well-rounded active ager and a beacon of hope and inspiration to all of us.
COMMUNITY SERVICE
Been actively involved in community work for more than 30 years, which includes areas in public health care (eye screening), professional nursing and medical care, grassroots committees and school committees
Part of the inaugural team in pioneering the National Myopic Prevention Programme in 1984
Ø Started by leading a volunteer work team, and conducted a survey on children aged 10 years & above who were treated at SGH Eye Clinic over a 6-month period in 1984. Findings showed that 60% of the cases were discovered too late for lazy eye treatment
Ø Tasked to lead a volunteer team of eye doctors, optometrists, orthoptists and nurses from SGH to conduct free eye screening nationwide for children below 10 years old.
Ø Health Promotion Board extended eye screening to pre-schoolers at kindergartens
Ø Helped in setting up 2 satellite clinics at Woodlands and Chua Chu Kang for HPB/TTSH National Myopic Prevention Programme
Ø Involved in Lions Club, TEI, TTSH monthly free eye screening to community in 2000 till current.
Ø Involved weekly free eye screening for senior citizens at 9 NHG polyclinics from 2000 to 2003
Volunteer activities:
Ø Instructor & examiner at St John’s Ambulance (1973-2000)
Ø Council member (1994-2000) & volunteer (2000 till current) at Dover Park Hospice
Ø AUPE PHD Nursing Branch (1987-2000)
Ø Workshop conductor & examiner for clinic assistant for General Practitioners’ Association (1988-1992)
Ø Voluntary Mission to the Sitagu Ayudana Hospital Sagaing Hills Myanmar (2006)
Grassroots community leader:
Ø Grassroots leader with West Coast CDCC, Bukit Timah Residents, served as Member, Auditor, Treasurer, Vice Chairman in various appointments (1984 till current)
Ø Chairman of Senior Citizens Club in the Bukit Timah Zone 4 RC
Ø Environment Ambassador of South West CDC, Ministry of Environment (2003 till current)
Ø Civil Defence
Volunteer in children’s education field
Ø Pay Fong High School Alumni Association (2001 till current)
Ø Gongshang Primary School Committee Adviser appointed by Ministry of Education (2004 till current)
Continue other community as an active senior volunteer
Ø Tembusu Alumni (2006 till current)
CONTRIBUTION TO CULTURAL ACTIVITIES
As an active grassroots leader, she has promoted racial harmony and inter-ethnic cooperation on numerous occasions, organizing and participating in cultural activities. She works with committees in programmes that encourage residents to join activities that promote racial harmony, so important in multi-racial Singapore.
CONTRIBUTION TO FAMILY AND GRANDCHILDREN
Despite her busy schedule, she ensures that she spends quality time with her family. She strongly believes in cultivating good values and strengthening their self-confidence and self-efficacy. She also seeks to inculcate these values and traits in her grandchildren. Be it their studies, work or personal lives, she does not just focus on the results, but whether they have made their best efforts in life. She encourages them to contribute to society by helping others readily, even in the form of little acts of kindness. Her famous quote is, “it’s a blessing to give than to take”. Seeing her undaunted by age her family is extremely motivated by the positive outlook and philosophy of caring for others.
As one ages, we tend to assume we become less effective in work or life, especially when health can become a hindering factor. However, Guat Neo strongly believes in staying young at heart and relevant to society. The secret to this is to maintain a very positive attitude and have strong will power. In fact, she believes that now is the greatest time to do many things as the family does not need her as much as they used to when her children were at a tender age. Guat Neo believes that we should take time to contribute to society by volunteering, as well as doing things we were unable to do when younger. More importantly, she believes that we must be able to ‘help’ ourselves before we can help others. In order to ‘help’ ourselves, we need to find the motivation that keeps us going, be it our work, or passion for hobbies. Her passion is in volunteering and this is the legacy she builds on proudly, as she ages gracefully.
Seng Guat Neo has contributed some 36 years of her experience to nursing in the ophthalmology field in Singapore. The quest for lifelong learning and the zest to contribute to society have always lain behind her active volunteerism. These also explain her choice to remain in the workforce well beyond her retirement age in Year 2000. Over the last 30 years, Guat Neo has participated in many community and volunteer groups. She also received a Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) commendation for services rendered in the Hotel New World Disaster rescue operations in 1986.
In order to stay relevant in the workforce, she took up IT and computing skills with the support and encouragement of her supervisor and colleagues. She constantly seeks opportunities to update herself on latest developments in the ophthalmic field. Guat Neo participated in the Ophthalmic Anaesthesia Course and Workshop held at the Alexandra Hospital in 2004. She also joined the International Federation on Ageing at the 7th Global Conference held at Suntec City Singapore, a multi-disciplinary conference on the aspects of aging engaged her interest.
Guat Neo believes in financial planning from a young age and is quick to point out to her younger colleagues that insurance policies are useful instruments to optimise their golden years. She has been a NTUC Income financial adviser for the past 2 decades, and advises her colleagues and friends on how and what sort of policy they should be looking at.
Even in adversity and illness, Guat Neo has persevered with a positive outlook, and strength of character. In the past year, she has converted to a part-time work scheme (3-day week) on health grounds. Her kidney dialysis treatment did not hinder her from continuing in community work up till today. In fact, her resilience inspired those around her. She was also able to draw on a warm and supportive family that she had herself nourished and developed over the years as a loving parent. Guat Neo believes that one should stay mentally alert, physically fit, socially active and spiritually attuned.
Guat Neo uses infocommunication technologies to stay in touch with her family and friends. Her IT skills help her communicate with her family members who periodically could be overseas for a long period of time. She is very determined to learn from the younger generation on new IT technology devices, such as advanced options in handphones to upload pictures from handphone to computer and vice versa. In fact, she is trying to learn how to handle an internet chat with her son abroad, and perhaps create her own blog site one day.
She practices Taiji, which is a low-impact exercise. She loves the fluidity of the movements that demand relaxation of muscles and concentration of the mind. She believes that apart from the physical benefits, this exercise also brings about a calm mind which is important for happiness and youthfulness. Her immersion in the physical, mental, social, emotional and spiritual spheres of life make her a well-rounded active ager and a beacon of hope and inspiration to all of us.
COMMUNITY SERVICE
Been actively involved in community work for more than 30 years, which includes areas in public health care (eye screening), professional nursing and medical care, grassroots committees and school committees
Part of the inaugural team in pioneering the National Myopic Prevention Programme in 1984
Ø Started by leading a volunteer work team, and conducted a survey on children aged 10 years & above who were treated at SGH Eye Clinic over a 6-month period in 1984. Findings showed that 60% of the cases were discovered too late for lazy eye treatment
Ø Tasked to lead a volunteer team of eye doctors, optometrists, orthoptists and nurses from SGH to conduct free eye screening nationwide for children below 10 years old.
Ø Health Promotion Board extended eye screening to pre-schoolers at kindergartens
Ø Helped in setting up 2 satellite clinics at Woodlands and Chua Chu Kang for HPB/TTSH National Myopic Prevention Programme
Ø Involved in Lions Club, TEI, TTSH monthly free eye screening to community in 2000 till current.
Ø Involved weekly free eye screening for senior citizens at 9 NHG polyclinics from 2000 to 2003
Volunteer activities:
Ø Instructor & examiner at St John’s Ambulance (1973-2000)
Ø Council member (1994-2000) & volunteer (2000 till current) at Dover Park Hospice
Ø AUPE PHD Nursing Branch (1987-2000)
Ø Workshop conductor & examiner for clinic assistant for General Practitioners’ Association (1988-1992)
Ø Voluntary Mission to the Sitagu Ayudana Hospital Sagaing Hills Myanmar (2006)
Grassroots community leader:
Ø Grassroots leader with West Coast CDCC, Bukit Timah Residents, served as Member, Auditor, Treasurer, Vice Chairman in various appointments (1984 till current)
Ø Chairman of Senior Citizens Club in the Bukit Timah Zone 4 RC
Ø Environment Ambassador of South West CDC, Ministry of Environment (2003 till current)
Ø Civil Defence
Volunteer in children’s education field
Ø Pay Fong High School Alumni Association (2001 till current)
Ø Gongshang Primary School Committee Adviser appointed by Ministry of Education (2004 till current)
Continue other community as an active senior volunteer
Ø Tembusu Alumni (2006 till current)
CONTRIBUTION TO CULTURAL ACTIVITIES
As an active grassroots leader, she has promoted racial harmony and inter-ethnic cooperation on numerous occasions, organizing and participating in cultural activities. She works with committees in programmes that encourage residents to join activities that promote racial harmony, so important in multi-racial Singapore.
CONTRIBUTION TO FAMILY AND GRANDCHILDREN
Despite her busy schedule, she ensures that she spends quality time with her family. She strongly believes in cultivating good values and strengthening their self-confidence and self-efficacy. She also seeks to inculcate these values and traits in her grandchildren. Be it their studies, work or personal lives, she does not just focus on the results, but whether they have made their best efforts in life. She encourages them to contribute to society by helping others readily, even in the form of little acts of kindness. Her famous quote is, “it’s a blessing to give than to take”. Seeing her undaunted by age her family is extremely motivated by the positive outlook and philosophy of caring for others.
As one ages, we tend to assume we become less effective in work or life, especially when health can become a hindering factor. However, Guat Neo strongly believes in staying young at heart and relevant to society. The secret to this is to maintain a very positive attitude and have strong will power. In fact, she believes that now is the greatest time to do many things as the family does not need her as much as they used to when her children were at a tender age. Guat Neo believes that we should take time to contribute to society by volunteering, as well as doing things we were unable to do when younger. More importantly, she believes that we must be able to ‘help’ ourselves before we can help others. In order to ‘help’ ourselves, we need to find the motivation that keeps us going, be it our work, or passion for hobbies. Her passion is in volunteering and this is the legacy she builds on proudly, as she ages gracefully.
No comments:
Post a Comment