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Saturday, April 20, 2024
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Cycling Western Australia

Planning a two-week cycling trip in Western Australia, my partner John and I kept it simple: our only mode of transport would be our bikes, which we would bring with us on our flight from Singapore. We wouldn’t travel with a group, rent a car, or have a support van follow us with back-up supplies.
It would be just the two of us, our pedal power and the bare minimum luggage. As we packed, our goal was to strip away luxuries and keep our overall weight down, so we could make it up the hills! We planned our itinerary ourselves and had to be very crafty with logistics; thinking carefully about what distance we could ride each day and where would we find food, water and a place to sleep for the night. WA has quite a few stretches of roads with no shops or restaurants for 50-100km, which is quite a significant distance to pedal on a “push bike”, that’s Aussie speak for our bicycles!

Time to roll
We landed in Perth in the evening and the next morning we were ready to go. On the first day we headed down the coast and after 95km of cycling made our way into Mandurah, a sweet coastal town on the southwest coast, known for its spectacular waterways, abundant bird life and annual crab festival (crabfest.com.au). We arrived a day before the big event, a celebration of the native blue manna crab, which attracts 100,000 locals and visitors. Sadly, we had to miss it, since we had kilometres to clock up and a destination to reach! Continuing down the coastline, we ended up in Eaton, a north-eastern suburb of Bunbury, staying the night at a newly built holiday park, with very comfortable cabins. Averaging 80-100km daily, we continued along the coast, taking in gorgeous sights of blue ocean water and rugged cliffs.

Wining and dining
Cycling around the Margaret River region proved a nice distraction from our fast-paced pedalling routine. We visited quite a few wineries, including the legendary Voyager Estate, one of the areas oldest wineries, with a stunning on-site restaurant, and lesser known Passel Estate, a young, but promising winery. Veering off into the vines significantly reduced our distance for the day, but it was worth it!
It was an indulgent couple of days, with stops at the Margaret River Chocolate Factory (chocolatefactory.com.au), and Bettenay’s (bettenaysmargaretriver.com.au), where we tried mouth-watering freshly made nougat and decadent nougat liqueur. We also visited the Margaret River Distillery Co, which is home to Giniversity (distillery.com.au/giniversity) – the first Australian distillery to incorporate hemp into gin.
We were impressed with the variety of condiments (jams, honey, sauces, pickles, olives), food and drink, furniture and other lifestyle items that this region produces. Another highlight was seeing kangaroos hanging out in the grape vines – one of them even skipped along the road with us, keeping up with our cycling pace.

Forests, trams and treetops
Leaving Margaret River, we headed for picturesque Caves Road, which leads to Boranup Forest, a towering Karri forest on the west coast of WA between Margaret River and Augusta, with trees over 50 metres high. Back on the coast, we spent the night at gorgeous Hamelin Bay, and stocked up on water and food, as the following day we were due to cycle 84km through huge forest trees and rolling hills to Nannup, with no shops, gas stations or any signs of civilization.
In Pemberton we rode the historic tramway, built to accommodate mining and agricultural activities decades ago (pemtram.com.au). The tram took us through bush and forests unique to this region, Karri and Marri trees, and river crossings. The ride exceeded our expectations, with beautiful scenery and interesting commentary on the flora, fauna and history of the region from the tram operator. There was even a stop along the way, when everyone got off the tram to admire the beautiful water cascades of the river, and a few times kangaroos jumped across the tram tracks right in front of us.
From Pemberton, we continued south to Walpole and the Valley of the Giants Tree Top Walk, suspended bridges taking us 40 meters above the ground in an ancient Tingle tree forest, giving us a bird’s eye view of some of the biggest timber giants on Earth. The ground level trail is also impressive, set among 400-year-old red Tingle trees, unique to south-west Australia. We took a guided walk to discover more about the region, its trees, colonial history, and indigenous culture. Some of the plants and trees can be traced back millions of years, to when Australia was joined with Africa, India and South America!
Next, we stopped at Denmark, with a quick visit to the toffee factory and Swiss chocolate factory for some delectable treats. Continuing east we took the Munda Biddi Cycle trail, an unpaved trail that was pretty dicey for my 25mm tires, but manageable. We ended up in Albany, the furthest point of our trip, taking us 815km away from Perth, our starting point. We continued back to Perth, taking a more inland route through very small towns with old style pubs and sleepy streets. The scenery was very different from the coast, with thick forests making way for more arid country, with fields of sheep and sightings of colourful birds. We even crossed paths with what appeared to be a family of large wild peacocks, crossing the road in front of us.
In the end, our 1377km journey took 16 days, with only one rest day in Albany. Aside from a couple of bad apples, drivers were very conscientious, allowing us plenty of space, even the oversized trucks (called road-trains in Australia) passed with care and some drivers gave us an encouraging wave. After a fortnight of diverse scenery, huge trees, exotic birds, wineries, distilleries, chocolate and nougat, fantastic pub meals, endless fields and beautiful coastline, we were completely won over by this stunning part of the world and hope to return to cycle more of beautiful Australia in the future.

Travel tips

Pub grub:
“Old fashioned pubs consistently churned out the best dinners for hungry cyclists. We had an amazing meal at Hummingbird, owned by a Singaporean lady with mostly Singaporean staff in Busselton (hummingbirdbusselton.com.au)
Brewhouse in Margaret River had the best burger (brewhousemargaretriver.com.au) and an unassuming, rundown pub in Katanning, located inside the Federal Hotel on Clive Street, served us an unexpectedly incredible dinner – the menu changes daily and is printed on a piece of paper, taped to the door. It was delicious, home-cooked food, with a huge dessert on the house!”

WHERE TO STAY:
“We stayed in cabins in holiday parks, pubs accommodations, and sometimes hotels. Noteworthy was the Albany Foreshore Guest House. (albanyforeshoreguesthouse.com.au) Located in a historic house built in 1881 by the National Australian Bank, it’s family run and the original decor has been preserved. Each room is unique and there’s free flow sherry for the guests, served in a cute carafe.”

Road to Recovery

Philippa came to competitive triathlons only recently, competing in her first half ironman at the age of 39. “I hated sports when I was younger. I was picked last for all the teams. It wasn’t until I was about 25 that I started running and doing occasional gym classes or weight training.”
One of Philippa’s strongest motivations for training is her health. Several years ago, while living in Dubai with her husband, Nick, Philippa found a lump in her breast. “You know how people say, ‘feel for a frozen pea’, that’s exactly what I felt. I was 33. I ignored it for six months and then thought, I better go see a doctor.” Now, Philippa is happy to talk about her story to make others aware of the need for action. “Even if you’re in your 20s or 30s, go and get checked. It’s too scary not to.” Philippa went through her cancer treatment in Dubai. “I had a mastectomy, and then chemotherapy for 18 months because the type of cancer I had was aggressive.”

Back on the bike
Fitness was an important part of her recovery. “I did a lot of walking, because we’d gotten a dog and I had to get up and walk him outside. It was quite good being in a country where everyone wears headscarves, because I didn’t stick out as a cancer patient!”
Her previous fitness from running and gym classes helped. “The treatment was pretty exhausting, but I don’t think I suffered as much as some people because I was relatively fit from the bit of running that I’d been doing. The doctors had to monitor my heart because the chemo can cause heart problems, and they could tell I was a runner. The scans showed my heart was quite strong.”
After her treatment, Philippa and Nick relocated to Singapore for his job. “Nick is also a cancer survivor, and he’s Type 1 Diabetic. He decided he was going to do half ironman a couple of years ago. It started when we moved to Singapore and realised it was cheaper for him to buy a bike and cycle to work every day. Riding to work turned into proper road cycling which required another bike, because he started with just a fixie with no gears. Then road cycling turned into triathlons, which required a special triathlon bike. We have a two-bedroom apartment, and one room is just for bikes!”

Social benefits
As well as the health benefits, the social network that her husband was making quickly drew Philippa in. “I actually did one triathlon here and hated it. But then I started meeting people, including Kim Bradley from ANZA Cycling when I bought a bike from her.” Joining a few triathlon groups helped her build confidence. “I started to make a network of really good friends. There’s a lot of us girls that really build each other up and motivate each other to do races.” Philippa quickly moved from triathlons to the bigger challenge of half ironmans. “At first, I hated cycling, swimming was terrible and only the run was okay. But Nick was doing it and it was something to do together.”

Back to Dubai
Philippa’s love for her former home led her to choose the Dubai Half Ironman as her first real challenge. “I signed up when the race registrations opened in November 2017 and had 12 weeks to train for the race in January 2018.” The half ironman distance is a 1.9km swim, 90km bike, and a 21km run, which she completed in 6 hours and 30 minutes. Philippa got more serious about her training and went on to do the Busselton Half Ironman later that year in Western Australia. “I took 40 mins off my Dubai race time.”
Most recently she trained for the Port Macquarie Half Ironman in May this year. Her arduous weekly training program includes three runs and rides and two to three swims. “On the weekend we do up to a four-and-a-half-hour ride, with a run after that. My husband and I often cycle a lap around Singapore on a weekend, around 115km. The next day is a two and a quarter hour run.“

Strong finisher
Philippa’s training has proved successful with strong finishes in her recent races. In the Powerman Malaysia Duathlon (20km run, 60km ride) in March this year, she finished 4th in her age group. She also competed in Singapore’s Metasprint series, scoring a podium spot in the Duathlon (run and ride), coming 3rd in her age group. Then she capped off the series by winning her age category in the Triathlon.
Although Philippa is cancer free, the treatment had a lasting impact on her body. “My body does feel different. When I had the mastectomy, they took my lat muscle (latissimus dorsi), from my back and brought it to the front to reconstruct my breast. The weird thing is when I’m swimming, I can feel the muscle working in the front, rather than the back. I like to blame that, if I’m last during a swim!”

Singapore Sports History

Singapore’s sporting culture was thrust into the global spotlight at the 2016 Olympics, when Joseph Schooling’s stellar performance in the 100m butterfly scored the country’s first Olympic gold medal. But the sporting tradition in Singapore stretches back as far as the country’s history. In the early days of the colony, British and European arrivals introduced organised sports from their home countries. Sporting clubs sprung up, forming an important part of the social life of expats.

Sporting Clubs in Colonial Days
The first sport to really gain traction in Singapore was horse racing. The Singapore Sporting Club formed in 1842, building a racetrack and grandstand in what is now Farrer Park. The first race was held in February 1843. In the 1920s, the Club was renamed the Singapore Turf Club and moved to Bukit Timah in 1933.
Another of the early colonial clubs was the Singapore Cricket Club (SCC), dating back to 1852. The club still stands proudly today at its original location in the city’s Civic District, on the edge of the Padang. As well as cricket, members played rugby and football during the club’s early days, with tennis and squash becoming popular in the early to mid-1900s.
Sport also played an important part in the development of clubs, such as ANZA, the Swiss Club, Hollandse Club and British Club. Club matches became integral to Singapore’s social life, connecting communities and celebrating the heritage of immigrants’ home countries.
The Chinese, Indian, Malay and other Asian communities formed their own clubs, for example the Straits Chinese Recreation Club. Founded in 1885, it started with cricket, hockey and football, with tennis also becoming popular after the turn of the century. The club still exists today, now located at Balestier Plain and renamed the Singapore Chinese Recreation Club. Directly opposite the Singapore Cricket Club, the Singapore Recreation Club was formed by a group of Eurasians to give their own community opportunities and facilities for team sports, especially cricket. The Chinese Swimming Club, the Indian Association and the Ceylon Sports Club are other ethnic sports clubs formed in the early 20th century, that are still thriving today.
In those days, sports clubs were almost exclusively male. During the early days of the SCC, women who wanted to watch the club’s sporting matches were restricted to the club’s upstairs veranda. So, in 1884, the Ladies Lawn Tennis Association was set up by the wives of SCC members. The club ran until 1932. The Eurasian community also set up a club for female sports, the Goldburn Sports Club (later renamed the Girls’ Sports Club). Starting in 1929 with 12 members, it helped to introduce team sports like hockey and netball into Singapore.

ANZA Sports
ANZA has played a significant role in Singapore’s sporting history. The ANZA International Junior Soccer team began in 1976 and quickly became an established group – first meeting at UWC playing fields, then Portsdown Road fields. Netball began in 1991, playing at courts at Tanglin Trust school and UWC on Saturday mornings. Tennis has long been an ANZA pastime, with women’s social tennis starting in 1979 and continuing today. Clubs that are no longer running include Keep Fit classes and Hockey! We now have some 15 sports groups and ANZA Soccer has almost 1000 players.

National Sports Associations and Facilities
In the early part of the 20th century, the government began building public sports facilities, such as the Mount Emily Swimming Complex, Farrer Park Sports Complex and Yan Kit Swimming Complex.
Lee Kuan Yew drove the development of Singapore’s largest sports facility, the National Stadium. It opened in 1973. With technology including sound systems, and electronic scoreboards, it was celebrated as one of the most advanced sports facilities in South
East Asia.
The early 1900s also saw the birth of public sports associations in Singapore. Some of the earliest were the Singapore Rifle Association, Football Association of Singapore and the Singapore Rugby Union. Now, the most popular spectator sport in Singapore is football, while the 2015 Singapore Sports Participation Survey named running, cycling, swimming, badminton, football and basketball as the most popular participation sports.

Sports Development
To further the development and success of Singapore’s elite athletes, the Singapore Sports Institute runs high performance training for athletes nominated by their respective sports association. Some of their current athletes are basketballers, track and field athletes, bowlers, volleyballers, swimmers, netballers, badminton and squash players. The institute also invests in sports science, medicine and technology, with a number of grants for innovation in sports-related fields. For younger athletes, the selective-entry Singapore Sports School offers development programs for many sports, including badminton, bowling, fencing, football, netball, shooting, swimming, table tennis, and track and field.

Singapore has competed in most of the summer Olympic Games since its establishment as a separate Crown Colony in 1948. While gold medals remained elusive until the most recent Games, Singapore has scored several silver and bronze:
1960, silver, lightweight weightlifting, Tan Howe Liang.
2008, silver, women’s table tennis team, Li Jiawei, Feng Tianwei and Wang Yuegu.
2012, bronze, women’s table tennis individual, Feng Tianwei
2012, bronze, women’s table tennis team, Li Jiawei, Feng Tianwei and Wang Yuegu.
2016, gold, 100m men’s butterfly, Joseph Schooling
2018 saw Singapore’s entry into the Winter Olympics, with speed skater Cheyenne Goh competing in the short track speed skating.
Singapore has a strong record at the Commonwealth Games over the years, with medals in seven sports: Table tennis, shooting, badminton, weightlifting, gymnastics, swimming and boxing.

Check Out – Sports in Singapore

1.Henderson Waves & the Southern Ridges Walk
Henderson Rd, 159557
nparks.gov.sg
Henderson Waves is the highest pedestrian bridge in Singapore, connecting Mount Faber Park to Telok Blangah Hill Park. Standing 36 metres above Henderson Road, it has a striking wave-like structure. The best way to explore the bridge is by taking a hike as part of the Southern Ridges Walk, a five-kilometre hiking trail that takes you through three major parks: Kent Ridge Park, Telok Blangah Hill Park and Mount Faber Park.

2.The Karting Arena,
Bukit Timah
200 Turf Club Rd, #01-01B The Grandstand, 287994
thekartingarena.com
Race around the track at top speeds of 50km an hour in a fun go-karting session. Electric powered karts make for great acceleration and handling. Grab a First Timer package and for $40 you’ll get a mandatory Race License, one Fun Karting Session and two Simulator sessions. Drivers must be aged nine years or older and at least 140cm tall. No bookings required.

3.SuperPark Singapore
#02-477, Suntec City (North Wing), 3 Temasek Boulevard, Tower 1, 038989
superpark.com.sg
This gigantic indoor activity park, hailing from Finland, includes over 20 activities in a 40,000 sq ft, two-storey venue. Adults are encouraged to get involved in the fun and games. Try your hand at the skate park, soccer, street basketball, trampolining, pedal car track, flying fox and tube slide. Tickets start from $22 per session. It’s quieter during weekdays and after 6pm.

4.Singapore Wake Park (SWP)
1206A ECP, 449891
singaporewakepark.com
Singapore’s only cable-ski park is built in a pretty lagoon at East Coast Park, overlooking the sea and adjacent to the East Coast Lagoon hawkers, with its wafting aromas of satay and local dishes. SWP’s friendly instructors will take you from wobbly beginner to confident rider in just one session. There are three levels of cable – one full loop for the experienced riders and two straight-line runs for novice and intermediate riders. Kids love it, and they can have a go from age six.

5.Singapore Dragon Boat Association (SDBA)
kallang River & Marina Channel
sdba.org.sg
If you’re interested in this ancient paddling sport, the SDBA offers a Dragon Boat Orientation Program (DOP) led by an experienced trainer and steer. Suitable for team bonding, social clubs or a group of friends it covers a safety briefing, 90 minutes of on water practise and a 15-minute race (if there are more than two boats out).

6.Singapore Sports Hub
Stadium Drive, Kallang
sportshub.com.sg
Singapore Sports Hub offers regular free sports programmes like Zumba, Yoga or Cardio Blast, as well as beach volleyball, hard courts (futsal, basketball and netball) lawn bowls, Splash & Surf, giant chess, a skate park, running & cycling paths, water sports and boat hire, and lap swimming at the OCBC Aquatic Centre. It’s also home to the Singapore Youth Olympic Museum, Singapore Sports Museum and Sports Hub Library, and Shimano Cycling World.

7.Climb Central
Kallang Wave Mall, 1 Stadium Place, #B1-01, 397628 & Novena Square, 238 Thomson Rd,
#03-23/25, 307683
climbcentral.sg
Walk in and climb anytime at these towering indoor rock-climbing walls. First timers get a safety briefing and equipment set rental (shoes, harness) for $32, but when you return it drops to $22 for an unlimited day pass. Get your own gear, and it becomes an affordable workout! There are guided programmes for adults and kids, so you can learn the ropes from the experts.

8.Archery Club of Singapore
Field along Hougang Ave 6, next to Block 542, 530542
archeryclubspore.com
The Archery Club of Singapore is open to anyone who wants to learn how to hit the bullseye using a bow and arrow. The Basic and Intermediate Archery course takes small groups of 8-10 archers through their paces. Three guided two hour sessions, costs $80 per person. There are lots of options to progress to competition levels for keen beans.

9.FaMA Fitness and Martial Arts
#02-03 Clarke Quay, 3A River Valley Road, 179020
famafit.com
This martial arts studio offers over 110 classes a week in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai, and Kids Martial Arts classes, catering to complete beginners, right up to seasoned competitors. There are also fitness classes, if you want to shake up your routine! The instructors are world class athletes and know their stuff.

Fresh Fitness Ideas

Row Revolution
rowrevolution.sg
9A Trengganu Street 058463
What is it: Row Revolution is the first studio in Singapore dedicated to indoor rowing. The hip studio is located in a converted shophouse above the tourist crowds in Chinatown, a short walk from Chinatown MRT station.
The experience: Jump on one of 12 state-of-the-art Concept 2 ergometer machines and try rowing in a small group setting. As well as learning the basics of body position, you’ll be taken through a 50-minute Dynamic Row session, which includes stretching, warm up, a main row, core exercises and a 1500 metre crew race down the Singapore River. The workout is set to music and lights to inspire power strokes and trainer David Han is on hand to provide guidance and encouragement. A more advanced Power Row class is also available, which emphasises technique and includes a five-minute benchmark test each session. After class, rowers are sent their class stats, which makes it easy to monitor your performance and progress.
Best for: Anyone looking to push themselves beyond the standard group workout. Rowing offers unbeatable cardio, kilojoule burn and a low impact, full body workout.
Classes: Mon-Thurs 7pm / Thurs 12.30pm / Sat 1pm (private classes available on request) Lockers, towels, water and showers provided.

Athlete Lab
singapore.athlete-lab.com
71 Amoy Street 069890
What is it: Athlete Lab is a unique indoor cycling experience, using real bikes (not spin bikes) with proper gears and groupsets to replicate the outdoor road biking experience.
The experience: The team at Athlete Lab will fit you onto their Adjustabikes, which are the kind used by pro riders and Olympic athletes. If you’re a newbie you’ll do a Functional Threshold Power (FTP) test to make sure you’re training at the right intensity. Then choose from five key cycling sessions ranging from 45 minutes to one hour. These vary in structure, from steady fitness rides to explosive power workouts. You can also watch accurate real-time data on big screens, including your power metrics, heart rate and cadence. These stats will automatically update to Strava or Trainingpeaks as soon as your ride is complete.
Best for: The Lab welcomes anyone interested in cycling for fitness, from beginners to elite athletes. Our ANZA Cyclists are regulars! Check it out with a free introductory ride.
Classes: Open 7 days a week. Morning, lunchtime and evening classes are available from 6am-7.30pm. Towels and shower facilities provided.

Move Academy Singapore
moveacademy.sg
43 Carpenter Street #02-01 059922
What is it: MOVE Academy Singapore offers parkour, mobility and strength classes for kids to adults (and even some spritely seniors!). Participants conquer everyday obstacles through jumping, climbing, vaulting, rolling, swinging, balancing, crawling and running.
The experience: This group class is led by experienced instructors who will take you through the basics of parkour in an outdoor setting, with an emphasis on safety and proper technique. Groups meet up in locations across Singapore – from Clarke Quay to Bishan, Dhoby Ghaut and Kallang. Expect to be leaping small walls, climbing on railings, jumping stairs, and more. You’ll be having tons of fun while working on strength, mobility, balance, and body control.
Best for: Anyone interested in a sport that combines the outdoors, with adventure and athleticism. Parkour is also a tight knit and friendly community, so it’s great if you’re looking for new friends.
Classes: Meet-ups happen 7 days a week in the morning, lunchtime and evening. There are lots of classes tailored for pre-schoolers, kids, adults and seniors. Some venues have shower facilities. Check the website for the weekly schedule and locations.

Aquaspin
aquaspin.sg
Various locations
What is it: Aquaspin is not your average water aerobics class. With submerged bikes in a swimming pool, it combines the principles of spinning with the soothing powers of water.
The experience: Bring swimwear and a water bottle and prepare to get wet and tone up. Each session provides a full body workout, incorporating a variety of positions to target specific parts of the legs, arms, and abs. There’s also a variety of speeds to boost strength and cardiovascular endurance. As well as delivering big on cardio and resistance training, it’s low impact as the water supports the joints. It’s splashy, fun, and fast paced, and some of the venues have spectacular views!
Best for: Anyone recovering from injury, or looking for a lower impact training option. It’s also a cooler option for outdoor exercise in this steamy city!
Classes: Sessions are run from Hotel Jen at Orchard Gateway, Swissôtel Merchant Court, Oakwood Premier Oue Shenton Way, Singapore Polo Club on Mount Pleasant Road, and Suntec City. Classes are held in the morning and evening and run from Monday-Saturday. They offer intro classes for newcomers.

Internationalism at AIS

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Transitioning to a new school and a new country is an exciting adventure. Immersing your children in an international community is an incredible opportunity for them to view the world through different lenses, appreciate diverse cultures and to have great respect and appreciation for all.

As an International Baccalaureate® World School, AIS live the united mission to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect. Our students have are encouraged to learn from each other in a collaborative and inquiry-based setting where Respect is one of our key values. The effects of ‘internationalism’ should be embraced, your child will flourish by being stretched and challenged by different ways of thinking, living and doing.

To help children get settled in diversified communities, it is important to thoroughly research your impending international move. To best prepare children and yourselves, gather as much information as possible and include your children in this fact-finding mission. Find out about your schooling options and what schools can offer you both prior to your commencement and whilst being a part of the school community. Ask about the school’s population and their nationality data. Discovering which nationalities construct your chosen school can help you to absorb those cultures before you arrive by reading books, watching documentaries, listening to other languages and finding out about their beliefs and cultures.

We have many structures in place to support new and existing families. Our Parents Association (AISPA) are available from the moment you arrive, a Parent Country Ambassador volunteer from your home country can help you with your transition and each class has a ‘Friend of AISPA’ who act as the support network for your child’s class. Students are also supported by the red-ribbon and buddy system for new students that are in-place across the school, and our school counsellors check-in with new students within their first few weeks. Our highly skilled welfare teams are also available across the school. Should Elementary and Secondary students require assistance with adjusting to a new school system or identify language barriers, our Learning Enrichment and English as Additional Language teams are on hand to help students with academic support.

AIS is an inclusive learning environment, we embrace and celebrate diversity and build relationships within our community based on mutual respect, trust, acceptance and care. All students, regardless of nationality, are language learners in the early years and we help develop their skills through play and social engagement. At AIS, we believe that students whose first language is not English are an asset in our school as they bring unique gifts, skills and culture.

Our Early Years programme is complete immersion in English language, so children coming into our Early Learning Village are at a significant advantage when learning a new language. All students in our Early Years programmes (18 months – 4 years) are encompassed in a language rich environment where native English speakers can learn from student’s whose Mother Tongue is not English, and all learners have the right to participate fully in their school environment regardless of any language barriers. Students also have access to single subjects where English language is not the focus of the curriculum which allows students to be successful in other areas such as physical education, art, music and Mandarin.

Kelly Sommerville, Head of Inclusion, AIS

Speak to the friendly Admissions team at AIS to learn more about the school.

Swimming for a Cure

After completing 16 ironman triathlons and over 30 half ironman races, Callum Eade was looking for an even bigger challenge. With the goal of fundraising for Tour De Cure, the New Zealander set his sights on swimming the English Channel – the famous body of water that separates Southern England from Northern France. “The channel has been an aspirational goal of mine for over a decade,” says Callum. “I’ve pursued many triathlon and ironman goals over the past 30 years and was looking for something new, exciting and challenging!” Callum and his family have lived in Singapore for the past seven years, and they are valued members of the ANZA community. “ANZA has been a big part of our Singapore life, particularly from a sporting perspective. My wife Sarah has helped coach my nine-year-old daughter Sophie at ANZA Netball for the last three years and our son Charlie (6) loves ANZA Soccer!”

Swim fit
Taking on the 33km swim presented a big physical test. “I’m not a swimmer,” Callum admits. “It’s part of the stable triathlon diet, so I’m fortunate that I’ve swum for many years, but given that it equates to 15% of a tri race…it’s always the poor cousin when it comes to training.” Callum had to ramp up his pool time. “The training load is enormous. I’m swimming 30-40km per week. I swim six days a week, averaging 4-5km per session. On top of this, I try to have one longer swim (6-7km) every week. I also swim 10-12km once a month. I need to eat properly, train every day, stay supple by way of massages, as well as balance work, family and health.”

Cold case
Callum must ensure he’s properly acclimatised for the icy Channel waters. “The temperatures in the English Channel will be 16-19 degrees Celsius. Living on the equator here in Singapore is far from ideal, with water temperatures in both the pools and the ocean normally exceeding 30 degrees Celsius. I’ve been travelling regularly to Melbourne, Australia to replicate the conditions of the Channel. I also spend a lot of time sitting in an ice bath when I’m back in Singapore!”
Callum has one more winter swim camp south of Sydney at the end of the month. “The key thing for me will be to stay focused and prepared for overcoming the cold. If I can’t deal with the temperature, we don’t have a chance to succeed. I’ll be ready fitness wise and motivation has never been an issue for me. I love pursuing a goal and I’ve also learnt in the past from being underprepared.”

Fundraising goals
Knowing he’s raising vital funds for cancer research has kept Callum on track during arduous training sessions. “I’m a cancer survivor. I was diagnosed with testicular cancer in 2011. My diagnosis was life defining. I was lucky to have found it early and I now feel an obligation to help others be aware of how they can control and manage their own health.”
Callum chose to partner with Tour de Cure, an Australian organisation that raises funds for cancer research through cycle events, swims, walks and runs. “They’re an amazing organisation – in the last decade they’ve raised nearly $50 million in the fight to cure cancer! Now, that’s something to swim for,” says Callum. The $100,000 goal has been set for a reason. “If we can reach $100,000, we’re able to fund a program to find a cure for DIPG cancer (DIPG is a tumour located in the middle of the brain stem) If we succeed it could help a lot of sick kids out there. Potentially it could help kids with DIPG brain cancer all over the world.”

Family act
When he feels exhausted, Callum’s family is there for support and encouragement. “My family are my greatest motivation. Amazingly, my son Charlie was conceived after I was diagnosed with cancer! Think about that! We’ve raised our children immersed in a life of ambition and drive. This is something that I want them to remember about their parents…that we drove this project together.” The entire family will fly to England for Callum’s Channel attempt. “The kids will remain in Dover when I embark on my swim from the UK to France, but my wife, coach and team will all be on the boat that will navigate me across the channel.” Good luck Callum!

Kids School Holiday Camps

CIS Summer Camp
17 June–26 July
The Canadian International School’s summer camp program features tons of sports and wellness options. Adventure Sports offers invasion games, parkour and laser tag; Discover Scuba Diving is a fun intro to underwater adventures; and Let’s Go Ball-istic is a comprehensive ball sports programme. For higher octane offerings there’s Sports Mania, featuring dodgeball, basketball, volleyball, table tennis and tenpin bowling; and Xtreme Adventure, where kids can try bubble soccer, archery, raft building and escape room challenges. For more info go to online.cis.edu.sg

Sentosa Challenge Camp 2019
June 12-14
There’s nothing quite like a jungle adventure for kids to hear the call of the wild! This weekend challenge camp, run by Outdoor Adventures, offers kids aged 7-12 a chance to build their confidence and resilience in a natural setting. Led by experienced guides, they’ll camp out in sleeping bags, take on leadership challenges and even cook their own breakfast. Other activities include a race around Sentosa, team challenges, luge and skyride, a boat ride to St John’s Island, and more. facebook.com/Outdoor.Adventures.Singapore

Bounce Singapore, Tramp Camp
3 June-16 August
Are your kids bouncing off the walls? Tramp Camp at Bounce Singapore is designed for kids 3+ to let loose on a huge range of indoor trampolines and an X-Park. Kids are fully supervised during this three-day morning camp, with instructors helping them develop aerial skills, play dodgeball, launch themselves into giant airbags and try to scale the warped wall. They also get the entire venue to themselves for the first hour (9am-10am), before it’s open to the public! bounceinc.com.sg/tramp-camp

Shaws Little League Holiday Camps
June 3-June 27
Active kiddos will love Shaws Little League holiday camps programme. Expect three hours of sports like volleyball, tennis, basketball, baseball, hockey, rugby, cricket, soccer, golf and athletics, plus sessions focusing on cooking and nutrition, and arts and crafts. Qualified staff help kids develop their confidence, teamwork and coordination, both on and off the playing field. Camps are run from their Kallang base. shawslittleleague.com

Camplify Singapore, Overseas Family School
June 10-July 5
Lace up those trainers and break out the kneepads! Camplify offers multi-sport camps where young athletes will tackle a wide variety of sports every week through an exciting rotation. Think tennis, soccer, basketball, baseball, rugby, hockey, volleyball and golf!  It also has a SuperHero Sports option that introduces kids to archery and mixed martial arts like Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Muay Thai, all in a fun and safe environment. Camplify will be hosted by the Overseas Family School in Pasir Ris.
info@camplify.com.sg, camplify.com.sg

TFL Combination Tennis and Swim Camps
3 June – 23 August
TFL has another set of popular week-long Tennis and Swim Camps for the school holidays. Kids aged 4+ will be taught the basics for both tennis and swimming, while having a blast through drills and games. Each morning session runs from 9am-12noon and finishes with a fun swim, including the use of the water slide. The camps will take place at Raffles Town Club (corner Dunearn & Stevens Rd). Lunch, prizes, photos and certificates make for an awesome final day! For more info email info@tfl-training.com or go to tfl-training.com/news-events

UFIT Kids Camps
5 June-12 July (camps also run later in the year)
Singapore’s outdoor training specialists also run kids camps for 6-14-year olds, designed to help kids of all fitness levels develop skills in different sports. Expect fun speed, strength and mobility sessions, organised by qualified coaches and former professional athletes. Programmes include multi sports day camps and weekly camps which combine multi sports, rugby, football and swimming. Camps are held at CrossFit Bukit Timah. Check ufit.com.sg/kids-camps for more information.

Sports for the Win!
Taking part in a sport can help in the development of your child’s self-esteem and confidence * Playing a sport helps kids develop social skills, gives them a sense of belonging and an opportunity to make friends * Through playing sports, kids can learn how to accept and cope with losses * Sport teaches kids to work in a team, stay disciplined and follow the rules!

Check out ANZA’s kids and adults sports groups at anza.org.sg/sports

3 Reasons Why You Must Send Money to Australia Now  

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Sometimes our professional or personal commitments take us to lands afar. Even in the hustle and bustle of expat life, we have commitments back home and a considerable amount of these include financial transactions. Hence, sending money back home to Australia is a regular affair.  If this reads like your life story, here are three reasons why NOW is the best time to send money to Australia

  1. The Singapore Dollar is Strong Now

The SGD has been on an upward trend for sometime. From being weaker than the AUD a couple of years ago, it is currently at a high of 1 SGD=1.05 AUD. For Australian expats in Singapore, this is an opportunity to transfer more money home at great rates.

  1. You don’t have to pay Forex margins nor Hidden Charges

Apart from hefty fees, traditional banks also charge a margin on your forex rates. So if the rate is 1 SGD=1.05 AUD, you would get a lower exchange rate with banks. Thanks to the growing penetration of the Internet and mobile telephones in almost every corner of the world, FinTech firms are highly motivated to create financial solutions that utilise the power and usefulness inherent in these technologies. So now, you can get real-time forex rates i.e the same rates you see on google if you use digital overseas transfer platforms like INSTAREM. Yay! No more FX margins EVER.

There’s More! When you transfer via banks, you end up paying hidden charges that you are completely unaware of. With InstaReM, your transfers are free from such unwanted charges.

  1. Opt for the Best Transfer Amount Guarantee, Everytime!

 Did you know that if you get a better transfer deal than InstaReM, you will be paid the transfer difference. That’s a winning deal, right? Here is a table showing the destination amount your beneficiary will receive when you send AUD 10,000 from Singapore, using different platforms.

What are you waiting for? Make sure you get the BEST TRANSFER AMOUNT GUARANTEE on every transfer, henceforth.

Sign up on instarem.com and Save More on your Overseas Money Transfers. Use code: ANZA20 to get a $20 discount on your 1st overseas transaction.