'There's meaning and purpose': The Istana gardener who served four presidents
SINGAPORE: If yous were to tour the lush green grounds of the Istana, yous would not detect a better guide than Mr Wong Tuan Wah who has clustered an intimate knowledge of the copse and shrubbery in the 106-acre manor.
He'southward gained that store of knowledge over the 24 years he has been working the grounds. In that time Mr Wong, at present the Senior Curator of the Istana, has served four presidents and two prime ministers.
And in these grounds, many of these trees have a story.
The oldest tree on the grounds is a Tembusu tree, he pointed out. It was planted in 1867, the same year the Istana was built, making it more than 150 years old. Pointing to the 40 towering trees that line the main Istana avenue, he said they were planted at the request of former Prime number Minister Lee Kuan Yew in 1972, who was an avid lover of pelting trees.
A rain tree was besides planted by then Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong in 1998, to commemorate the launch of the Singapore Kindness Movement, Mr Wong said.
SERVING 4 PRESIDENTS
Staff at the Istana like to mark their time by the Presidents they have served, he said.
"When I came in 1996, it was the middle of the term of President Ong Teng Cheong. After President Ong, information technology was President (SR) Nathan who was here for two terms – twelve years. Followed past President Tony Tan, six years, and now President Halimah Yacob," he said.
The changes marked more just the passage of time for Mr Wong. The focus was different too, he said.
When Mr Ong was president, he initiated the upgrading of the Istana front lawn in 1996.
"What y'all see today is the upgraded lawn itself – very cute, very tranquil, and a lot of flowering plants," Mr Wong said.
Mr S. R. Nathan, who served as president from 1999 to 2011, encouraged NParks to document the Istana'south flora and fauna into books. "I think he enjoys reading books, so he commissioned NParks to take the lead in producing these books," said Mr Wong.
During that time, NParks gear up a squad to piece of work on three different books – the Gardens of the Istana, the Trees of the Istana and the Birds seen at the Istana – which were all produced during Mr Nathan'due south time.
When Dr Tony Tan served his presidential term from 2022 to 2017, he directed Mr Wong to set the spice garden and the orchid garden to showcase the spices and Singapore'southward national flower, the Vanda Miss Joaquim, to visitors who come up when the Istana grounds are open up to the public.
Under Mdm Halimah Yacob, the Istana has started to open up to the customs and beneficiaries such as people with special needs, to let the public "savour the tranquil and peaceful gardens", he said.
Mr Wong added that Mdm Halimah is also a book lover, She commissioned 10 books for the Istana's 150th ceremony celebrations concluding year.
SENIOR CURATOR OF THE ISTANA
The work day starts early for Mr Wong - at about 7.30am - who oversees a team of 13 responsible for the day-to-day maintenance of the Istana.
"As I walk in from the main gate towards my office, I volition audit the grounds … I run across things out of place and needs to be rectified, then I would inform the workers," he said.
These could include clearing fallen branches and debris, and replanting shrubs which accept been damaged the 24-hour interval before.
Mr Wong's squad volition likewise take accuse of the decorations and potted plants for functions and events held at the Istana.
Autonomously from attending to routine duties, Mr Wong is actively involved in several Istana-related projects. Ane such project involves the conservation of the Oriental Pied Hornbills by providing the birds with suitable artificial nest boxes.
In 2019, he was also "very busy" with projects related to the 150th anniversary of the Istana, including editing 10 different books on the Istana, and helping the President host events and activities within the gardens.
"What we practice here is a service, and the service must be upward to certain expectations. Nosotros have to ensure that nosotros meet this service all the time, and the service is besides reflected in the quality of work that nosotros exercise," said Mr Wong.
This includes responding to urgent requests which normally needs to be settled on the day itself, such as checks on the the water quality of the ponds, tree weather and even pungent smells emanating from the lawn.
Other than overseeing the maintenance of the Istana, Mr Wong is as well in accuse of supervising the development of Fort Canning Park.
After spending the first one-half of his day at the Istana, Mr Wong will walk over to Fort Canning Park, where he will similarly inspect the grounds
They completed phase one of the Fort Canning Park Masterplan, just in time for the opening of the Singapore Bicentennial issue on June 1st terminal year, said Mr Wong. The Fort Canning Park Masterplan involves the recreation of historical gardens at Fort Canning Park to emphasise its history and heritage.
"Now looking back, information technology's a major achievement … because we were able to complete nine gardens within 2 years," said Mr Wong.
OVERSEAS RECRUITMENT
Working with the outdoors suits Mr Wong.
"I'm interested in the outdoors, and I like the outdoor piece of work," he said.
This is why Malaysian-built-in Wong chose to pursue a Forestry degree in New Zealand after completing his Pre-U education in Malaysia.
In his third yr, the Public Service Commission came to New Zealand to recruit students to the civil service. Based on his third yr results, he was offered an interview.
He remembers the interview being three hours long, and information technology was all done in the university, but he came out of it with a job offer from the Parks and Recreation Board (now NParks) even earlier graduating.
"I was very happy, my parents were very happy," he said.
He thought that he would try the position out, since he had received the offer, and it ended upwardly beingness his "offset and last chore".
MEANINGFUL Work
The civilisation of working at the Istana has changed over the years, said Mr Wong.
"When I get-go came here … people don't want to work at the Istana. Nobody volunteered. Y'all're just selected … and you're sent to a identify where you're not sure if yous make the grade."
Only now, after more than xx years, he feels that the Istana is a "skillful place to work".
"In that location's pregnant and purpose here, that you provide a good service to the Istana."
To watch the Istana evolve over fourth dimension is also a reward in itself.
"Yous feel very happy when you meet the growth and development of the gardens through dissimilar times," he said.
"In 1998, then Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong planted the yellow pelting tree. Information technology was still small (then), but at present 20 years, you see the tree abound and it's such a majestic tree.
"Yous feel proud and y'all feel happy that yous accept contributed in a pocket-sized manner to promoting afforestment, seeing the tree grow."
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Source: https://cnalifestyle.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/istana-gardener-who-served-four-presidents-196891
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