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Hear the Past See the Present
Touch the Future
Inaugural Annual Report 1996-1998
S INGAPORE DISCOVERY CENTRE
1 H e a r t h e P a s t
S e e t h e P r e s e n t
T o u c h t h e F u t u r e
Chairman's Statement
Board of Directors
Steering Committee
Management Team
Attractions at SDC
New Attractions
Promotion & Publicity Activities
National Education Programmes & Activities
Corporate Membership Scheme
c o n t e n t s 2
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The Singapore Discovery Centre (SDC) has made an impact on Nat iona l Educat ion
since it was officially opened by the President of Singapore, M r Ong Teng Cheong,
on 23 November 1996.
I am pleased to report that in our first seventeen months of operation from October 1996
to March 1998, we received more than half a mi l l ion visitors. Feedback from our
visitors indicates that they thoroughly enjoyed the unique SDC experience. They found
educational value in our attractions and also had a good time.
School children today make up about 30% of our visitorship. With its emphasis on National
Education, provided by hi-tech and interactive exhibits, the SDC has become an important
destination for school visits. We are one of the 20 nat ional institut ions listed in
"Learning Journeys", a programme initiated by the Ministry of Education to instil pride in young
Singaporeans and foster an understanding of the factors that have contributed to Singapore's
success. Ou r l ink with the schools has also been strengthened by our successful
I n s t i t u t i o n a l M e m b e r s h i p Scheme and by our p o p u l a r Schoo l R o a d s h o w s .
The Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) and the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) also recognise
our role in National Education. The scheme for active servicemen to visit the SDC has now
been extended to include Operationally Ready National Servicemen (NSmen). Personnel from
the Police and the Singapore Civil Defence Force also visit the SDC as part of their
training curriculum.
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Chairman's Statement
The SDC, while focused on its educational role, has also emphasised fun and entertainment
in its programmes. Through this "edu-tainment" approach, the SDC has successfully organised
many fun-filled events, activities and promot ions to attract visitors. At the same
time, we have also introduced new attractions, upgraded and replaced existing exhibits to
offer visitors new and exciting experiences, as well as to attract repeat visits. We strongly
believe that the continuous introduction of new and unique attractions will determine, to
a large extent, the success of the SDC. To this end, a masterplan for the long-term
development of the SDC will be developed.
As a new attraction, the SDC has worked hard to attract tourists. Our vision for the
future is also to position ourselves as a unique attraction which will enable tourists to
have a deeper insight into Singapore's past, present and future.
I would like to thank all our sponsors, the SAF, the Police, the SCDF, the schools and corporations
which have supported us. I would also like to record my deepest appreciation to members of the
SDC Board and Steering Committee for their vision and ideas
which have helped make the SDC what it is today.
Finally, my thanks to the management and
staff of SDC for their dedication and
hard work throughout the year.
Peter Ho
C h a i r m a n , SDC
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From left: B G Stephen Wong Kong Yip, Mr Peter Ho Hak Ean, B G (Ret) Chin ChowYoon and LTC Soh Poh Theen (Absent: Mr Chiang Chie Foo)
Board of Direetors
Chairman
Deputy Chairman
Members
Mr Peter Ho Hak Ean
Permanent Secretary (Defence Development)
BG Stephen Wong Kong Yip
Commandant, SAFTI Military Institute
Mr Chiang Chie Foo
2nd Permanent Secretary (Education)
BG (Ret) Chin Chow Yoon
Executive Director, SDC & CEO Bintan Resort Management
LTC Soh Poh Theen
Commander ASB, RSAF
Past Members of the Board of Directors:
LTC (NS) Lim Boon Wee
Mr Ng Yoke Weng
COL Soon Eng Boon
LTC (NS) William Yap Guan Hong
(10 July 1995 - 10 October 1996)
(19 October 1994 - 20 May 1997)
(25 October 1993 - 19 October 1994)
(19 October 1994- 10 July 1995)
Standing (from left): C O L Chong Kim Chye, Adj Prof Kwa Chong Guan, C O L Soon Eng Boon, Mr Lai Kim Fatt, LTC Soh Poh Theen and Ms Chong Phit Lian Seating (from left): Prof Leo Tan, B G Stephen Wong Kong Yip, Mr Peter Ho Hak Ean & B G (Ret) Chin Chow Yoon (Absent: Mr Chiang Chie Foo)
Chairman
Members
Mr Peter Ho Hak Ean
Permanent Secretary (Defence Development)
Mr Chiang Chie Foo
2nd Permanent Secretary
(Education)
BG (Ret) Chin Chow Yoon
Executive Director SDC &
CEO Bintan Resort Management
COL Chong Kim Chye
Director Public Affairs,
MINDEF
Ms Chong Phit Lian
Group GM , SAFE Enterprises
Adj Prof Kwa Chong Guan
Head of External Programmes,
Institute of Defence &
Strategic Studies
Mr Lai Kim Fatt
Director Systems &
Computer Organisation,
MINDEF
Prof Leo Tan
Dean School of Science,
NIE
LTC Soh Poh Theen
Commander ASB, RSAF
COL Soon Eng Boon
Dy Comdt/Head Curriculum Dept,
SAFTI Military Institute
BG Stephen Wong Kong Yip
Commandant,
SAFTI Military Institute
Past Members of Steering Committee
COL (Ret) Kwan Yue Yeong
COL (Ret) Lee Seng Kong
Prof Lui Pao Chuen
COL (Ret) Ramachandran Menon
Mr Shih Chih Chung
LTC Sng Seow Lian
(20 March 1990 - 22 January 1997)
(15 October 1994 - 27 March 1997)
(22 August 1991 - 13 November 1992)
(20 March 1990- 15 October 1994)
(20 March 1990 - 26 February 1996)
(26 February 1996 - 22 October 1996)
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Steering Committee
From left: Mr Lawrence Low, Mr G.K. Pillai, Ms France Goh. LTC (Ret) Victor Pinto. B G (Ret) Chin Chow Yoon, Ms Faye Kee, Ms Jan Chang & Mr Lee Choon Nam
Management Team
Executive Director
General Manager (Operations)
Finance & Administration Manager
Education Manager
Marketing Manager
Operations Manager
Technical Manager
Deputy Estate Manager
BG (Ret) Chin Chow Yoon
LTC (Ret) Victor Pinto
Ms Faye Kee
Ms France Goh
Ms Jan Chang
Mr G. K. Pillai
Mr Lawrence Low
Mr Lee Choon Nam
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The SDC has strong outdoor and indoor dimensions. Its outdoor perspective includes a lake, the
nearby wooded hills and the colourful elements of its architecture. It has a unique triangular
roof structure and supporting rectangular buildings. The relationship of these geometric forms
and luminous colours instantly identify the SDC as a compelling public attraction. Indoors, the
SDC has been designed to an "open gallery " concept.
A . Scenes of Singapore's past are authentically re-created.
Technology Gallery
The highly interactive Technology Gallery
presents the impact of technology on warfare
over the years. "Must-sees" in this Gallery
are Technology Theatre, Jungle Survival,
Super Troopers, Great Armies, Soldier 21,
Shipbridge 21, Guardian of Our Skies and
Military Body Shop.
Tactics Gallery
As its name suggests, the Tactics Gallery
showcases the wonders of tactics in history
and modern life. The Gallery's attractions
include Everyday Park, Tintoy Theatre,
Swiss Success, Safe & Happy Home ,
Urban Survival, Global Situation Room,
Faces of Battle and What If ?
iWERKS Theatre
The 350-seat iWERKS Theatre works the magic
of story-telling through large format films.
The highly successful show A New Day
has been screened since SDC's opening.
It captures the contributions of ordinary
Singaporeans to the success of the nation.
• An exciting moment during the screening of the show A New Day at the iWERKS Theatre.
Singapore Dynamics Gallery
This Gallery traces Singapore's development
and vision. Singapore's milestones are
creatively captured through a combination of
thought-provoking dioramas and interactive
exhibits. A total of fourteen significant
span the country's
years in 1942 to what
it hopes to be in
future. The Gallery
compr ises three
main sections, the
development years
from 1942 to 1987,
Singapore Today and
Promise of Peace.
Attractions at SDC...
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Shooting Gallery
The Shooting Gallery is a four-lane computerised
simulated firing range for aspiring marksmen
to put their shooting skills to the test. First-time
visitors to this Gallery
are often surprised
by the level of
co-ordinat ion and
quick reflex needed in
target shooting.
Simulator Ride
The 60-seat simulator has six-degree-of-freedom
movement, making the experience real and
enjoyable. Strike Force, a film which captures
the three services of the SAF in an exciting
exercise, is immensely popular and has been
screened since SDC's opening.
Outdoor Exhibits and Children's
Adventureland
Beyond the Galleries, eight items of real
military hardware from the Army, Navy
and Air Force are on display in the Outdoor
Exhibits Area. The beautifully landscaped
Children's Adventureland
is next to the Outdoor
Exhibits and is popular
with children.
A . This 60-seat simulator which offers visitors a thrilling ride, is a first in this region.
SAFTI Coach Tour
Visi tors to the SDC can also enjoy
a comp l imen t a ry coach tour of the
SAFTI Military Institute. The 20-minute
tour highlights interesting buildings and
landmarks in SAFTI.
^ The Children's Adventureland is a hit with adults and children alike.
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• The Shooting Gallery offers plenty of fun & excitement for all visitors.
True to its spirit of education and entertainment, the SDC always explores new attractions
and upgrades existing ones. This is to ensure the SDC experience is always fresh and
inspiring for first-time and repeat visitors.
• The virtual reality attraction allows visitors to be the hero of the day!
Niagara : Miracles, Myths and Magic
In April 1997, SDC began screening a second
70mm film at the iWERKS Theatre. This was
Niagara : Miracles, Myths and Magic, a very
popular show. Well-received by visitors, Niagara
ended its run in January 1998.
RGB Adventure
In June 1997, a second simulator ride film
entitled RGB Adventure was introduced. This
show is especially popular with younger visitors.
Second Virtual Reality Game
In August 1997, a second Virtual Reality
Mandala System was introduced. Three new
games were also brought in - Turbo Kourier,
N e t m i n d e r and C o l o u r Tr i p :
Digital Drums/Body Paint. So far, this
new virtual reality
attraction has
proved to be
popular, just like
the first virtual
rea l i ty game ,
Airborne Rangers.
4 Witty Little George will entertain you with his wisecracks when you
"".entre.
Interactive Robot - Little George
In May 1997, a new interactive robot named
Little George joined the SDC. It was first
used for the TechLabs Exhibi t ion and
School Roadshows. Later, in September 1997,
Little George found its home at SDC's main
entrance, the ideal spot to welcome and exchange
greetings with visitors.
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New Attractions
r
See Sparky and his family zoom "out ^ of the screen" as they introduce
Singapore in the 21 st century..
3-D Laser &
Film Spectacular
In J anua ry 1998, the 3-D Laser &
Film Spectacular 8th Wonder of the World was
launched in the iWERKS Theatre. This highly
animated experience tells the Singapore story
dramatically and colourfully through laser
animation, special visual and sound effects.
Visual Dynamics Theatre
This 50-seat Visual Dynamics Theatre
was o p e n e d in N o v e m b e r 1 997 .
Serving Singaporeans: Today & Tomorrow, a 3-D video show first produced for the
PS21 Exhibition, is now screened in this theatre.
Sonar, Thermal Imaging and Tunnel of
Illusions
These three attractions were introduced in
October 1997. They teach the technology
of sound, heat and vision by inviting visitor
participation. These attractions are very
popular with our visitors.
Infra-red technology at work at Thermal Imaging.
Headlines, Lifelines
In October 1997, the Headlines, Lifelines m u l t i m e d i a p r o g r a m m e a t t h e
G loba l Si tuat ion Room was launched.
This was a joint effort with The New Paper.
Focusing on the events of the 1940s.
Headlines, Lifelines brings alive the events
and facts of the past in an interesting
manner.
Black Box
The Black Box was also opened in
October 1997. This 25-seat sound-proof, dark
room is equipped with high quality sound
equipment. A combination of unique 3-D effects
and state-of-the-art technology features an
authentic re-creation of life during the
Japanese Occupation (1942 - 45). High in
education and emotional content, Black Box is
open to schools and organised groups only.
Audiences were captivated by the high-tech 3-D laser effects.
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/ ince the SDC's opening, it has hosted a wide number of events - some fun, others for charily and
many which underline the role of ordinary Singaporeans in Singapore's success story, past, present
and future. From photograph exhibitions to footballers, from actors to art competitions, the SDC
has been a venue which marries education and entertainment, fun and knowledge.
Christmas Charity (December 1996)
A Christmas Charity was organised on 26 December 1996. About $4,000 worth of gifts
were presented to five charities. These included the Chen Su Lan Methodist Children's Home
and the Boys' Town.
West Coast Attractions (March 1997)
On 15 March 1997, the SDC joined seven other attractions located in the western part
of the island to form West Coast Attractions, an initiative supported by the Singapore
Tourism Board. To encourage more visitors to West Coast Attractions, a 10% discount was
offered for visits to second and subsequent attractions.
Jk. The contestants had great fun during the competition as they get to exchange ideas with others.
National Students On-the-Spot Art Competition
(April 1997)
The SDC co-hosted the 1997 Na t i o n a l Students
On-the-Spot Art Competition with Singapore Press Holdings
on 5, 6, 12 and 13 April 1997. A total of 8,000 students
from 4 to 16 years old participated in the competition.
Mr Peter Chen, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Education,
was the guest-of-honour. One of the highlights of the event
was an education event entitled A Walk Down Memory Lane. Stalls selling foodstuffs and games were set up amidst
a carnival-like atmosphere.
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Promotion Publicity
Activities
Charity Activity - Joint Promotion with The New Paper and Friday Weekly
(June 1997)
The promotion took off on 8 June 1997 during which 20% discount was given on ticket
prices. As part of the Charity Drive, the SDC donated 50% of the amount collected from
admission tickets sale of that day to the Down Syndrome Association.
Photography Contest and Exhibition (August - September 1997)
The Photography Contest and Exhibition, which coincided with National Day celebrations,
was jointly organised by the SDC and the Photographic Society of Singapore. The theme
for the contest was "Singapore's Past, Present and Future". The contest was divided into
two categories - Junior (below 21 years) and Adult (21 years and older). Three top prizes
and three merit prizes were awarded in each category. A school prize was also awarded
to the school that had the most winners in the Junior Category.
TCS Photo Exhibition for Drama Serial "The Price of Peace" (August 1997)
Television Corporation of Singapore (TCS) held a photo exhibition at the SDC for the
Chinese drama serial "The Price of Peace" from 10 to 17 August. The lead artistes in the
drama serial made an appearance at the SDC on the first day to support the event.
•A. BG (Ret) Chin ChowYoon, Executive Director SDC,
welcoming the stars of the popular show "The Price of Peace".
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A . The fans took the opportunity to meet Fandi when the Warriors visited the SDC.
Meet the members of the SAF Football Club - The Warriors (August 1997)
On 31 August 1997, members of the SAF Football Club including Fandi Ahmad visited the SDC
together with their families. The Warriors took the opportunity to meet up with their fans
for an autograph session.
Army Open House (September 1997)
In conjunct ion with Army Open House, held on 6 and 7 September 1997 at the
SAFTI Military Institute, the SDC offered special admission packages for all SAF personnel and
their families.
Bikers' Carnival (October 1997)
Jointly organised by the SDC and Two Wheelers, this Carnival was held at the SDC on
18 and 19 October 1997. On display were the latest motorcycles from Honda and
Harley Davidson. There was also a display of vintage motorcycles, all dated before the 1940s.
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The SDC's 1st Anniversary Celebration (November 1997)
The S D C c e l e b r a t e d o u r f i r s t a n n i v e r s a r y on 23 N o v e m b e r 1 9 9 7 .
M r Matth ias Yao, Minister of State, Ministry of Defence, was the guest-of-honour.
One of the highlights was the 421,123rd visitor to the SDC. The number 421,123 was
significant as "42" represented the 420,000 visitors we had at the SDC as at 23 November 1997,
while " 1123" represented the date of the SDC's anniversary.
^ From left BG (Ret) Chin Chow Yoon, Executive Director SDC; the 421,123 d visitor Mr John Chao and family
with the guest-of-honour, Mr Matthias Yao, Minister of State, Ministry of Defence (6th from left). Extreme right. BG Stephen Wong, Deputy Chairman, SDC.
Roadshows at Shopping Centres (October 1996 - December 1997)
In order to create a greater awareness of the SDC among the public, roadshows were held
at shopping centres around the island. At the roadshows, a light-hearted skit gave
audiences a feel of the SDC experience. It was also an opportunity for the public to discover
more about the SDC. The roadshows were held at Jurong Point Shopping Centre,
Parkway Parade, N T U C Hougang Ma l l , Suntec City Ma l l and Tiong Bahru Plaza.
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National Education
Programmes & Activities
Objective
The objective of national education of the SDC is to complement and supplement the history and
social studies syllabi of schools.
Target Groups
Target audiences are :
All schools in Singapore, ranging from Pre-Primary, Primary, Secondary, Pre-University, ITEs
and Polytechnics. Nat iona l Servicemen in the SAF, the SCDF and the Police Force.
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Education Programmes
The following programmes were introduced to maximise the national education benefits of the
attractions in SDC:
Worksheets and Teachers' Guides To ensure that the visits by the students are meaningful and that the students focus on the
salient aspects of the attractions, three sets of worksheets were produced, catering to each
of the three levels - Primary, Secondary and Tertiary. Teachers' Guides were produced to
give teachers a better understanding of the exhibits as well as provide essential material
for them to conduct a tour of the SDC for their students.
^ Students were totally engrossed as they listened to the narrations of the guide.
Character Guided Tours Covering the attractions in the Singapore Dynamics Gallery, the Character Guided Tours were
led by hosts who dressed up as characters who had witnessed the significant milestones in
Singapore's history. The characters recounted these historical events in a personal and
heart-warming manner.
Attachment Scheme Eleven NUS Theatre Studies students were attached
to the SDC in December 1996. As part of their
assignment, they wrote a drama script for selected
exhibits and performed at the exhibits.
Talks-cum-Discussion On 29 October 1997, Dr Melanie Chew held a
talk-cum-discussion for 80 Junior College students.
Her talk, titled "Leaders of Singapore" was the first
in a series by distinguished or well known personalities
Ak. Dr Melanie Chew on earnest discussion with students.
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A . The students were totally immersed in the re-enactment of life under the Japanese.
POW-WOW Camp The Pow-Wow Camp was successfully carried out on 26 and 27 November 1997 for
30 Jurongville Secondary School students. 8 Hwa Chong Junior College students acted as Japanese
soldiers and 2 Jurongville teachers took on the role of civilians. Through this camp, the
students had a vivid experience of what life was like during the Japanese Occupation. This
camp will be organised yearly.
Besides conducting national education programmes and activities in SDC, an outreach programme
to the schools was undertaken.
School Roadshow A total of 54 schools benefited from the school roadshows in 1997. Through the use of laser
technology in the film show, the lessons of National Education were brought home by the students.
The school roadshows proved to | be highly popular among students. 18
Institutional Membership The Institutional Membership scheme was opened to schools from March 1997. So far,
more than 63% of schools are members. Institutional members are offered a range of
privileges ranging from priority booking for the roadshows to discounted admission and
simulator ride rates.
Education Programmes for National Servicemen In March 1997, MINDEF approved a scheme to enable active servicemen to visit the SDC, as
part of nat ional education. In October 1997, this scheme was extended to NSmen.
Worksheets on the salient aspects of the attractions in the SDC are distributed to national
servicemen on their visit to the SDC. To ensure that the NSmen understand certain key
messages, a short quiz is provided at the end of the worksheet. Successfully completed
quizzes are eligible for a lucky draw.
To enable national servicemen to benefit more from the Centre, we provide training to
selected SAF servicemen so that they can conduct tours for the men in their charge.
j* . Interpretive dramas effectively conveyed the feelings of ordinary Singaporeans during momentous times.
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Corporate j Membership
Scheme The Corporate Membership Scheme was launched in March 1997. Corporate members are given
special privileges when visiting the SDC or when holding corporate events at the SDC.
Corporate Events Held at the SDC
A total of 80 organisations and 225 SAF units held their corporate functions such as Family Day
and Anniversaries at the SDC's outdoor picnic area and indoor facilities. The Hospitality Suite
and the Discovery Gallery were some of the
facilities that are used. The size of these
corporate functions ranged from 100 to 8,000.
A total of 85,000 adults and children enjoyed
themselves at the SDC during these corporate
events.
Corporate events were held regularly at the SDC.
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SINGAPORE DISCOVERY CENTRE
510 Upper Jurong Road Singapore 638365 Tel: 792 6188 Fax: 792 1233 Website: http://www.sdc.com.sg