By Vincent D’Silva

JOHOR BAHRU: Beneath the warm glow of lights and the gentle music that filled Pekin Sutera Restaurant, the Rotary Club of Changi celebrated its 38th anniversary and the installation of its new board of directors in an evening rich with laughter, embraces and the enduring language of fellowship.

It was a night where friendship crossed the Causeway with grace. Members of the Singapore-based club and invited guests from Johor moved from table to table, exchanging handshakes, hugs and cheerful conversation as old bonds were renewed and new acquaintances were made.

The celebration carried special meaning as it marked the first time the Rotary Club of Changi had held its installation outside Singapore, turning the occasion into more than a ceremonial gathering. It became a bridge of fellowship between Rotarians from Singapore and Johor, a meeting of hearts bound by common purpose and shared service.

After the Loyal Toast and roll call, the evening opened with a welcome address by organising chair, Assistant Governor and Past President Linda Chiang, who thanked all who had journeyed to Johor Bahru to be part of the memorable occasion.

Linda described the evening as a bold step towards deeper fellowship and stronger regional bonds. Welcoming Rotarians, guests and friends, she said the occasion was historic as it was the first time a Singapore Rotary club had brought its annual anniversary celebration to Johor Bahru.

She noted that Rotary District 3310, with its five regions — Singapore, Johor and Malacca, Sabah, Sarawak and Brunei — stood as a district of many shores but one shared spirit.

“Tonight is historic for us,” she said, adding that the decision to hold the celebration in Johor reflected the incoming president’s desire for “change” and the club’s wish to bring the gathering closer to fellow Rotarians across the district.

Linda said the evening was more than a celebration of years and leadership; it was a gathering that opened wider doors to fellowship, friendship and collaboration. She expressed hope that the occasion would spark new connections, strengthen existing bonds and inspire more meaningful service projects in the year ahead.

Thanking all who made the journey, especially Rotarians from Singapore, she also paid tribute to her organising committee for their hard work and gave special appreciation to Charter President Dr Wong Chin Liang of the Rotary Club of Senai for his invaluable assistance.

“Let us celebrate, let us connect, let us continue to Unite for Good to Create Lasting Impact,” she said, as the night unfolded in the warm glow of Rotary friendship across borders.

Returning to lead the Rotary Club of Changi for a second time, President 2025–26 Dr Gong Ing San called on members to carry forward the noble spirit of Rotary with humility, compassion and a renewed commitment to serve humanity.

Speaking at the club’s anniversary and installation ceremony, Dr Gong said it was both a privilege and honour to once again serve the Rotary Club of Changi, describing his return to the presidency as a deeply meaningful chapter in his Rotary journey.

“It is indeed my privilege and honour to serve the Rotary Club of Changi for a second term as its 38th President,” he said. “My first term of office as President was in 1992-93, as its 5th President. Indeed, it is much better serving the club the second time round.”

In a speech filled with reflection and quiet conviction, Dr Gong reminded members that Rotary’s calling was not one of personal glory, but of selfless service to those in need.

He said members of the Rotary Club of Changi would continue to do their utmost to live up to the motto “Service Above Self”, while remaining humble in their efforts to bring relief, hope and kindness to fellow human beings.

“We will uphold the spirit of Rotary, and make a difference to as many lives as we can,” he said. “We are here not for ourselves, but we are here to be of service to mankind and humanity.”

Drawing from the timeless words of Stephen Grellet, Dr Gong reflected on the urgency of doing good while one still has the chance. “For I shall pass through this world but once. Any good, therefore, that I can do, or any kindness I can show to any human being, let me do it now, for I shall not pass this way again,” he quoted.

As the club enters another year of service, Dr Gong urged members to remain united in purpose and steadfast in compassion, saying Rotary’s work must continue to reach beyond borders, titles and ceremonies.

“Let us continue to Unite for Good to Create Lasting Impact for years to come,” he said.

His message resonated as both a pledge and a prayer — that the Rotary Club of Changi, guided by fellowship and warmed by the light of service, would continue to stand as a bridge of goodwill, carrying hope to communities and leaving behind footprints of kindness that time cannot easily erase.

As the evening unfolded, music continued to fill the air while guests mingled freely, their conversations rising above the clinking of glasses and the happy hum of fellowship. There was a sense of ease and affection in the hall — the kind that comes when people gather not as strangers, but as companions on the same journey of service.

A highlight of the night came when Rotarians took to the stage for the cake-cutting ceremony. Voices joined together in song as they celebrated the club’s anniversary, before the cake was cut amid thunderous applause from the crowd.

For the Rotary Club of Changi, the evening was more than an anniversary dinner. It was a graceful chapter written beyond familiar shores — a night of friendship, gratitude and shared purpose, where the spirit of Rotary shone brightly across borders and reminded all present that service, like fellowship, knows no boundary.

The anniversary became more than a commemoration of years gone by. It was a tribute to those who built the club, a remembrance of those who had passed on, and a pledge by those who remain to keep serving with open hands and humble hearts.

For in the life of Rotary, the measure of time is not counted merely in anniversaries, but in lives touched, friendships deepened and kindness offered before the road is travelled no more.

Incoming Rotary Club of Changi president Boh Tuang Sim called on members to embrace Rotary Year 2026-27 as “a year of rejuvenation” — a season to renew strength, guide younger leaders and create an impact that would live beyond the passing of time.

Speaking at the club’s 38th anniversary celebration and installation dinner, Boh expressed gratitude to Changi Rotarians for once again placing their trust in him to lead the club.

Having previously served as the club’s sixth president in 1993/94, he described his return to the presidency, after 33 years, with humility and humour, saying he had been “recycled” as president for the new Rotary year.

“I’m indeed honoured and hope after 33 years, and amidst my business commitment and travels, I will still have the time and energy to lead the club again,” he said.

Boh said the new Rotary year would be one of renewal, where senior members would strengthen the foundation of the club while mentoring the younger generation of leaders already being prepared for the years ahead.

He said this was especially important as the club looked forward to supporting District Governor Nominee Designate Jimmy Cheong, who is expected to take office as District Governor of Rotary International District 3310 in Rotary Year 2028-29.

“Changi’s first District Governor,” Boh noted with pride, adding that the milestone would coincide with the Rotary Club of Changi’s 40th anniversary.

The installation dinner also carried special meaning as it marked the first time a Singapore Rotary club had taken the bold step of hosting its anniversary celebration in Johor, across the border and in another country.

Boh said the decision had not been easy at first, as the organising team was unsure of the response, but the overwhelming support from members and friends proved that the spirit of Rotary could travel beyond geography.

With members from 41 clubs present, the occasion became more than a celebration; it became a living bridge of fellowship, goodwill and shared purpose.

“Tonight’s gathering is a milestone for Rotary Club of Changi,” Boh said. “Celebrating our 38th anniversary overseas adds pride to confirm that friendship and leadership are beyond borders.”

He also paid heartfelt tribute to the organising committee, led by Linda Chiang, whose commitment and passion, he said, had made the work “much easier and relaxed.” Thanking her and the team, Boh acknowledged the labour, sacrifice and quiet dedication that had gone into making the historic evening possible.

Touching on Rotary’s theme for 2026-27, “Create Lasting Impact,” Boh said the Rotary Club of Changi had already been living out that call through meaningful and sustained service.

He said lasting impact begins with “projects that last,” pointing to the club’s continuing involvement in the “Feed the Hungry” project in Ipoh and its donation of dialysis machines, mainly to its friendship club, the Rotary Club of Kulai, as well as to the Rotary Clubs of Kota Tinggi and Mersing.

These projects, he said, were not passing gestures, but acts of service that continued to touch lives long after the events themselves had ended.

“This year, I hope we will not only be able to sustain those projects, but also strengthen them, so they keep changing lives long after our term ends,” he said.

Boh added that lasting impact was also about “people who last” — building a strong club by welcoming new members, keeping current members and spouses engaged, and ensuring that everyone found a meaningful and enjoyable role in Rotary.

He said the third pillar of impact was “memories that last,” reminding members that service must also be meaningful, joyful and rooted in fellowship.

“The best Rotary clubs are the ones where you come for service and stay on for the fellowship,” he said.

In words that carried both humility and hope, Boh reminded members that leadership was never a solitary journey.
“I can’t create this impact alone. I need all your support. My role is to support, connect and cheer you on. Your role is to bring your ideas, your hands and your heart.”

As the night unfolded across borders, beneath the glow of friendship and the promise of a new Rotary year, Boh’s message rested gently on one enduring truth — that service is not measured merely by what is done today, but by what continues to bloom tomorrow.

With hearts united and hands ready for work, he urged the club to make the year one that Changi Rotarians would remember with pride, and one that would give true meaning to the call to “Create Lasting Impact” long after their term had ended.

As the final notes of music faded and the night drew gently to a close, the Rotary Club of Changi’s 38th anniversary stood not merely as a celebration of years, but as a living testament to friendship that crosses borders, service that outlives ceremony and memories that continue to breathe through those who remain faithful to the call.

In the warm embraces, the shared laughter and the quiet remembrance of pioneers who had gone before, the evening became a tender bridge between past and future — a reminder that Rotary’s truest legacy is not written in titles or timelines, but in the hearts it touches, the burdens it lightens and the kindness it offers before the road is travelled no more.

For on this night in Johor Bahru, beyond the Causeway and beneath the glow of fellowship, the Rotary Club of Changi renewed an old and noble promise: to unite for good, to serve with humility and to keep carrying the lamp of compassion wherever humanity calls.

Present for the evening included District Governor Dr Shahul Hameed and his wife, Rotary Club of Changi President Dr Gong Ing San, Past Rotary International Director Chew Ghim Bok, District Governor-Elect Dolly Yeap, Rotary Club of Changi President-Elect Boh Tuang Sim and his wife, and Rajamohan Munisamy, Past District Governor and spouse..