News

This was the sight that greeted visitors at Memphari Beach, Sentosa Island on 2 August, the venue of the Law Society’s First Family Day, supported by our generous sponsors, Fuji Xerox, Standard Chartered Bank and Mad about Golf.

'Surviving' the tug of war

250 people, including 80 children, gathered to enjoy and celebrate our first Family Day. Fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, cousins, nephews, nieces, grandparents and grandchildren came together to celebrate the joy of being part of a larger family, our legal family.

The theme for the day was ‘Survivor’ as families battled to be the champion after a series of telematch challenges.

Our two ‘tribes’ were simply identified by blue and red bandanas led by their Captains (or should I say Chiefs!) David Nayar and Sivakumar Murugaiyan. After four events, the score was even. The Blue team’s early lead of 2-0 with victories in the Memory Game and the Cucumber Run (very physically challenging events for adults and children alike is all I will say) was closed by the Red team’s decisive victories in the two tug of war events, one for ladies and the other for men.

The debate goes on about whether the men’s tug of war race was equally balanced because the Red team had a few ‘larger’ men at the end of their rope compared to the Blue team.

But in the end it was not brawn or brains that won the competition for the champion tribe, as the decider was a test of hand and eye co-ordination with a touch of imagination. The team that created the best looking ‘mummy’ in three minutes using very fragile toilet rolls would be declared the winner! The adjudicator to make this very difficult call on our ‘best dressed’ mummy was none other than our President, Mrs Arfat Selvam.

'Rowing' our Boat to victory

Zero Naplon was ‘The Mummy’ for the Blue team and Pratap Kishan ‘The Mummy’ for the Red team. A picture speaks a thousand words, so I will leave you to judge for yourself if the Blue team should have indeed won the decider on that sunny afternoon on Memphari Beach.

Between telematches, our families enjoyed the fun fair stalls, had their faces painted or had intricate henna tattoos ‘embossed’ on various body parts — arms, legs and backs.

Beach-side massages were enjoyed primarily by the men after the tug of war event to soothe tired shoulder and back muscles.

Candy floss, pop corn and ice cream were consumed non-stop by both the old and young alike.

Two large inflatable castles provided bouncing fun for our families and their children but also to passing tourists who were roaming the island. The Law Society’s Family Day hospitality certainly extended to all visitors to the island.

Jousting proved popular too, I should add, using rubber lances. Everyone enjoyed watching and cheering their favourite ‘knight’ for the day.

As the sun was setting, Bosco the magician and fire-eater thrilled children and adults alike with his magical wizardry and daring fire swallowing.

A cool breeze settled in at about 6pm as our families readied themselves to enjoy a barbecue dinner. As dinner ended at 7.30pm and weary young children began to rub sleep off their eyes, our families packed for home whilst some headed for the musical fountain to catch the last show for the day. Some families stayed well into the night chatting and enjoying the quiet stillness of that corner of Sentosa Island.

Our first Family Day was certainly a success and the overwhelming feedback was that this should be an annual event in the Society’s calendar. Congratulations to both the Social and Welfare Committee and the Secretariat for an event well organised.


Members of the Social & Welfare Committee gamely doing the Macarena	Balloons - can a child say no?	Look ma, a fire eater!