{"id":22702,"date":"2021-09-23T06:11:00","date_gmt":"2021-09-23T06:11:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cheapwebsitedesigner.org\/ccktc\/?p=22702"},"modified":"2024-05-11T06:54:31","modified_gmt":"2024-05-11T06:54:31","slug":"salute-our-towns-pioneers-trailblazers-of-the-sg-can-do-spirit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cheapwebsitedesigner.org\/ccktc\/salute-our-towns-pioneers-trailblazers-of-the-sg-can-do-spirit\/","title":{"rendered":"Salute Our Town\u2019s Pioneers, Trailblazers of the SG \u2018Can-Do\u2019 Spirit"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"22702\" class=\"elementor elementor-22702\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-1a78be3 elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no\" data-id=\"1a78be3\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-abb6356\" data-id=\"abb6356\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ba2b5d5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"ba2b5d5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.22.0 - 26-06-2024 *\/\n.elementor-widget-image{text-align:center}.elementor-widget-image a{display:inline-block}.elementor-widget-image a img[src$=\".svg\"]{width:48px}.elementor-widget-image img{vertical-align:middle;display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" src=\"https:\/\/cheapwebsitedesigner.org\/ccktc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Presentation1.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-22705\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-751c5ae elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no\" data-id=\"751c5ae\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-426aea6\" data-id=\"426aea6\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5127921 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"5127921\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.22.0 - 26-06-2024 *\/\n.elementor-heading-title{padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title[class*=elementor-size-]>a{color:inherit;font-size:inherit;line-height:inherit}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-small{font-size:15px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-medium{font-size:19px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-large{font-size:29px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xl{font-size:39px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xxl{font-size:59px}<\/style><h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Salute Our Town\u2019s Pioneers, Trailblazers of the SG \u2018Can-Do\u2019 Spirit<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5b3e219 elementor-widget-laptop__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"5b3e219\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1703\" src=\"https:\/\/cheapwebsitedesigner.org\/ccktc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/20210716_0072-scaled.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-22707\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Madam Soh Lian Tee with her eldest grandson, Mr Tan Kee Nam, at her flat in Keat Hong estate.<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c3a2394 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"c3a2394\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.22.0 - 26-06-2024 *\/\n.elementor-column .elementor-spacer-inner{height:var(--spacer-size)}.e-con{--container-widget-width:100%}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-spacer,.e-con>.elementor-widget-spacer{width:var(--container-widget-width,var(--spacer-size));--align-self:var(--container-widget-align-self,initial);--flex-shrink:0}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container,.e-con>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container{height:100%;width:100%}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container>.elementor-spacer,.e-con>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container>.elementor-spacer{height:100%}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container>.elementor-spacer>.elementor-spacer-inner,.e-con>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container>.elementor-spacer>.elementor-spacer-inner{height:var(--container-widget-height,var(--spacer-size))}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-spacer.elementor-widget-empty,.e-con>.elementor-widget-spacer.elementor-widget-empty{position:relative;min-height:22px;min-width:22px}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-spacer.elementor-widget-empty .elementor-widget-empty-icon,.e-con>.elementor-widget-spacer.elementor-widget-empty .elementor-widget-empty-icon{position:absolute;top:0;bottom:0;left:0;right:0;margin:auto;padding:0;width:22px;height:22px}<\/style>\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-9136f2d elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no\" data-id=\"9136f2d\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-0bc1357\" data-id=\"0bc1357\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-645b3a9 elementor-widget-mobile__width-inherit elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"645b3a9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.22.0 - 26-06-2024 *\/\n.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked .elementor-drop-cap{background-color:#69727d;color:#fff}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-framed .elementor-drop-cap{color:#69727d;border:3px solid;background-color:transparent}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap{margin-top:8px}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap-letter{width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap{float:left;text-align:center;line-height:1;font-size:50px}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap-letter{display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t<p>With the International Day of Older Persons coming up on 1st October, we turn the spotlight on the inspiring seniors in our midst and celebrate the resilience and \u2018can-do\u2019 spirit of our Pioneer Generation.<\/p>\n<p>Meet Madam Soh Lian Tee, 102, our very own CCK Town centenarian. She survived the Japanese Occupation and lived through those early tumultuous nation-building years, during which she worked hard to raise her family of 8 children.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Learning Through Life\u2019s Trials<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Orphaned at seven, Mdm Soh was adopted by her maternal aunt, who married the young lady off to her adopted son, Goh Kheng Lian, who was about 3 years older.<\/p>\n<p>Although her husband\u2019s family were wealthy rice merchants when Mdm Soh first got married, the Goh family was cheated of their family fortune.<\/p>\n<p>Her husband became a seafarer to support his family but misfortune struck when his ship capsized. As no word was received on his whereabouts, everyone thought he had perished.<\/p>\n<p>To support her six children, the youngest barely a toddler, Mdm Soh started working as a domestic helper for expatriate families. She cooked, cleaned and babysat for her employers.<\/p>\n<p>Due to her diligence and industriousness, her services were highly sought.<\/p>\n<p>A few years after Mdm Soh became the family\u2019s breadwinner, her husband made a surprise return! However, the stoic wife Mdm Soh continued working to support her family as her husband suffered from ill health until his death in 1972 at age 58.<\/p>\n<p>The couple went on to have two more children after Mr Goh\u2019s return. In total, they had eight children \u2014 one son and seven daughters<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-c64a4c9\" data-id=\"c64a4c9\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7ff6f4f elementor-widget-laptop__width-initial elementor-widget-mobile__width-inherit elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-arrows-position-inside elementor-pagination-position-outside elementor-widget elementor-widget-image-carousel\" data-id=\"7ff6f4f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" id=\"post-carousel\" data-settings=\"{&quot;slides_to_show&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;navigation&quot;:&quot;both&quot;,&quot;autoplay&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;pause_on_hover&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;pause_on_interaction&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;autoplay_speed&quot;:5000,&quot;infinite&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;effect&quot;:&quot;slide&quot;,&quot;speed&quot;:500}\" data-widget_type=\"image-carousel.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.22.0 - 26-06-2024 *\/\n.elementor-widget-image-carousel .swiper,.elementor-widget-image-carousel .swiper-container{position:static}.elementor-widget-image-carousel .swiper-container .swiper-slide figure,.elementor-widget-image-carousel .swiper .swiper-slide figure{line-height:inherit}.elementor-widget-image-carousel .swiper-slide{text-align:center}.elementor-image-carousel-wrapper:not(.swiper-container-initialized):not(.swiper-initialized) .swiper-slide{max-width:calc(100% \/ var(--e-image-carousel-slides-to-show, 3))}<\/style>\t\t<div class=\"elementor-image-carousel-wrapper swiper\" dir=\"ltr\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-image-carousel swiper-wrapper\" aria-live=\"off\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"swiper-slide\" role=\"group\" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" aria-label=\"1 of 3\"><figure class=\"swiper-slide-inner\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"swiper-slide-image\" src=\"https:\/\/cheapwebsitedesigner.org\/ccktc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/autnie3-2.png\" alt=\"Mdm Soh having a quiet birthday celebration at home this year instead of the big parties of yester-years due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. Photo provided by Mdm Soh\u2019s family.\" \/><figcaption class=\"elementor-image-carousel-caption\">Mdm Soh having a quiet birthday celebration at home this year instead of the big parties of yester-years due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. Photo provided by Mdm Soh\u2019s family.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><div class=\"swiper-slide\" role=\"group\" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" aria-label=\"2 of 3\"><figure class=\"swiper-slide-inner\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"swiper-slide-image\" src=\"https:\/\/cheapwebsitedesigner.org\/ccktc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/999.png\" alt=\"An 18-year-old Mdm Soh in her wedding finery with Mr Goh. Photo provided by Mdm Soh\u2019s family.\" \/><figcaption class=\"elementor-image-carousel-caption\">An 18-year-old Mdm Soh in her wedding finery with Mr Goh. Photo provided by Mdm Soh\u2019s family.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><div class=\"swiper-slide\" role=\"group\" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" aria-label=\"3 of 3\"><figure class=\"swiper-slide-inner\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"swiper-slide-image\" src=\"https:\/\/cheapwebsitedesigner.org\/ccktc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/33333-768x1149.png\" alt=\"Mdm Soh with her employer\u2019s children. She cooked and cleaned for expatriate families to support her family. Photo provided by Mdm Soh\u2019s family.\" \/><figcaption class=\"elementor-image-carousel-caption\">Mdm Soh with her employer\u2019s children. She cooked and cleaned for expatriate families to support her family. Photo provided by Mdm Soh\u2019s family.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-swiper-button elementor-swiper-button-prev\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-eicon-chevron-left\" viewBox=\"0 0 1000 1000\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M646 125C629 125 613 133 604 142L308 442C296 454 292 471 292 487 292 504 296 521 308 533L604 854C617 867 629 875 646 875 663 875 679 871 692 858 704 846 713 829 713 812 713 796 708 779 692 767L438 487 692 225C700 217 708 204 708 187 708 171 704 154 692 142 675 129 663 125 646 125Z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-swiper-button elementor-swiper-button-next\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-eicon-chevron-right\" viewBox=\"0 0 1000 1000\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M696 533C708 521 713 504 713 487 713 471 708 454 696 446L400 146C388 133 375 125 354 125 338 125 325 129 313 142 300 154 292 171 292 187 292 204 296 221 308 233L563 492 304 771C292 783 288 800 288 817 288 833 296 850 308 863 321 871 338 875 354 875 371 875 388 867 400 854L696 533Z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"swiper-pagination\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-287da71 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"287da71\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b8f86b6 elementor-widget-mobile__width-inherit elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"b8f86b6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Mdm Soh was fiercely dedicated to her job. Even during the turbulent period of the racial riots in 1964, she defied danger and went to work daily. In fact, Mdm Soh worked well into her 60s until her children managed to convince her to retire.<\/p><p>The feisty lady led an active life and loved cooking up a storm for her big extended family. Her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren never fail to rave about the matriarch\u2019s cooking.<\/p><p>Fiercely independent, Mdm Soh was still doing all the housework and cooking for herself even when she turned 100. At 99 years old, she was still whipping up yummy and nutritious meals for two of her grandchildren\u2019s post-natal confinement period.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-65bc827 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"65bc827\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1649\" height=\"890\" src=\"https:\/\/cheapwebsitedesigner.org\/ccktc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/888888.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-22716\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Mdm Soh surrounded by her extended family at one of the last massive birthday party they threw for her before the outbreak of the recent Covid-19 pandemic. Photo provided by Mdm Soh\u2019s family.<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b650e07 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"b650e07\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5c3dd3f elementor-widget-mobile__width-inherit elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5c3dd3f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"news34477\" class=\"masonry-item masonry-brick is-expanded\"><div class=\"holder\"><div class=\"item_content\"><p>Today, her oldest daughter is 82 and youngest daughter is 60. Between them, they gave her 26 grandchildren, with the oldest aged 60, and more than 40 great-grandchildren.<\/p><p>Her seventh daughter, Madam Goh Bee Poh, said even though her mother is now quite deaf, she is still sharp as a nail and can recognise practically every member of her over 100-member strong extended family.<\/p><p>While she might not remember the names of the younger great-grandchildren so well, she is able to identify who they are related to.<\/p><p>Mr Tan Kee Nam, her oldest grandson, said Mdm Soh is so well loved that the extended family has a roster to ensure that she is always surrounded by at least one family member every day of the week. So, the beloved matriarch never wants for anything and is never lonely.<\/p><p>Mdm Goh said in Mandarin: \u201cMy mum had a tough life when she was younger, but she is now basking in all our love and care in her golden years.\u201d<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1e56fa5 wpr-button-icon-position-left wpr-button-icon-style-inline elementor-widget elementor-widget-wpr-button\" data-id=\"1e56fa5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"wpr-button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"wpr-button-wrap elementor-clearfix\">\n\t\t<a class=\"wpr-button wpr-button-effect elementor-animation-grow\" data-text=\"Go\" href=\"https:\/\/cheapwebsitedesigner.org\/ccktc\/latest-news\/\" id=\"back_btn\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<span class=\"wpr-button-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"wpr-button-text\">Back<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"wpr-button-icon\"><svg class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-angle-left\" viewBox=\"0 0 256 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M31.7 239l136-136c9.4-9.4 24.6-9.4 33.9 0l22.6 22.6c9.4 9.4 9.4 24.6 0 33.9L127.9 256l96.4 96.4c9.4 9.4 9.4 24.6 0 33.9L201.7 409c-9.4 9.4-24.6 9.4-33.9 0l-136-136c-9.5-9.4-9.5-24.6-.1-34z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fd93642 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"fd93642\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Salute Our Town\u2019s Pioneers, Trailblazers of the SG \u2018Can-Do\u2019 Spirit Madam Soh Lian Tee with her eldest grandson, Mr Tan Kee Nam, at her flat in Keat Hong estate. With the International Day of Older Persons coming up on 1st October, we turn the spotlight on the inspiring seniors in our midst and celebrate the resilience and \u2018can-do\u2019 spirit of our Pioneer Generation. Meet Madam Soh Lian Tee, 102, our very own CCK Town centenarian. She survived the Japanese Occupation and lived through those early tumultuous nation-building years, during which she worked hard to raise her family of 8 children.&nbsp; Learning Through Life\u2019s Trials Orphaned at seven, Mdm Soh was adopted by her maternal aunt, who married the young lady off to her adopted son, Goh Kheng Lian, who was about 3 years older. Although her husband\u2019s family were wealthy rice merchants when Mdm Soh first got married, the Goh family was cheated of their family fortune. Her husband became a seafarer to support his family but misfortune struck when his ship capsized. As no word was received on his whereabouts, everyone thought he had perished. To support her six children, the youngest barely a toddler, Mdm Soh started working as a domestic helper for expatriate families. She cooked, cleaned and babysat for her employers. Due to her diligence and industriousness, her services were highly sought. A few years after Mdm Soh became the family\u2019s breadwinner, her husband made a surprise return! However, the stoic wife Mdm Soh continued working to support her family as her husband suffered from ill health until his death in 1972 at age 58. The couple went on to have two more children after Mr Goh\u2019s return. In total, they had eight children \u2014 one son and seven daughters Mdm Soh having a quiet birthday celebration at home this year instead of the big parties of yester-years due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. Photo provided by Mdm Soh\u2019s family. An 18-year-old Mdm Soh in her wedding finery with Mr Goh. Photo provided by Mdm Soh\u2019s family. Mdm Soh with her employer\u2019s children. She cooked and cleaned for expatriate families to support her family. Photo provided by Mdm Soh\u2019s family. Mdm Soh was fiercely dedicated to her job. Even during the turbulent period of the racial riots in 1964, she defied danger and went to work daily. In fact, Mdm Soh worked well into her 60s until her children managed to convince her to retire. The feisty lady led an active life and loved cooking up a storm for her big extended family. Her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren never fail to rave about the matriarch\u2019s cooking. Fiercely independent, Mdm Soh was still doing all the housework and cooking for herself even when she turned 100. At 99 years old, she was still whipping up yummy and nutritious meals for two of her grandchildren\u2019s post-natal confinement period.\u00a0 Mdm Soh surrounded by her extended family at one of the last massive birthday party they threw for her before the outbreak of the recent Covid-19 pandemic. Photo provided by Mdm Soh\u2019s family. Today, her oldest daughter is 82 and youngest daughter is 60. Between them, they gave her 26 grandchildren, with the oldest aged 60, and more than 40 great-grandchildren. Her seventh daughter, Madam Goh Bee Poh, said even though her mother is now quite deaf, she is still sharp as a nail and can recognise practically every member of her over 100-member strong extended family. While she might not remember the names of the younger great-grandchildren so well, she is able to identify who they are related to. Mr Tan Kee Nam, her oldest grandson, said Mdm Soh is so well loved that the extended family has a roster to ensure that she is always surrounded by at least one family member every day of the week. So, the beloved matriarch never wants for anything and is never lonely. Mdm Goh said in Mandarin: \u201cMy mum had a tough life when she was younger, but she is now basking in all our love and care in her golden years.\u201d Back<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":22703,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"elementor_header_footer","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-22702","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-latest-news"],"acf":[],"rttpg_featured_image_url":{"full":["https:\/\/cheapwebsitedesigner.org\/ccktc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Image_Editor-15.png",1280,1280,false],"landscape":["https:\/\/cheapwebsitedesigner.org\/ccktc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Image_Editor-15.png",1280,1280,false],"portraits":["https:\/\/cheapwebsitedesigner.org\/ccktc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Image_Editor-15.png",1280,1280,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/cheapwebsitedesigner.org\/ccktc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Image_Editor-15-150x150.png",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/cheapwebsitedesigner.org\/ccktc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Image_Editor-15-300x300.png",300,300,true],"large":["https:\/\/cheapwebsitedesigner.org\/ccktc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Image_Editor-15-1024x1024.png",800,800,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/cheapwebsitedesigner.org\/ccktc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Image_Editor-15.png",1280,1280,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/cheapwebsitedesigner.org\/ccktc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Image_Editor-15.png",1280,1280,false]},"rttpg_author":{"display_name":"admin","author_link":"https:\/\/cheapwebsitedesigner.org\/ccktc\/author\/admin\/"},"rttpg_comment":0,"rttpg_category":"<a href=\"https:\/\/cheapwebsitedesigner.org\/ccktc\/category\/latest-news\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Latest News<\/a>","rttpg_excerpt":"Salute Our Town\u2019s Pioneers, Trailblazers of the SG \u2018Can-Do\u2019 Spirit Madam Soh Lian Tee with her eldest grandson, Mr Tan Kee Nam, at her flat in Keat Hong estate. With the International Day of Older Persons coming up on 1st October, we turn the spotlight on the inspiring seniors in our midst and celebrate the&hellip;","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cheapwebsitedesigner.org\/ccktc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22702","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cheapwebsitedesigner.org\/ccktc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cheapwebsitedesigner.org\/ccktc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cheapwebsitedesigner.org\/ccktc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cheapwebsitedesigner.org\/ccktc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=22702"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/cheapwebsitedesigner.org\/ccktc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22702\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cheapwebsitedesigner.org\/ccktc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/22703"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cheapwebsitedesigner.org\/ccktc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22702"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cheapwebsitedesigner.org\/ccktc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22702"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cheapwebsitedesigner.org\/ccktc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=22702"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}