4 minute read
Celebrating Swiss National Day Together, At Last
AFTER THE PANDEMIC HAD FORCED US TO SUSPEND PHYSICAL CELEBRATIONS FOR TWO YEARS, WE FINALLY RESUMED THE ANNUAL TRADITION OF OUR SWISS NATIONAL DAY CELEBRATION IN 2022. HERE ARE SOME HAPPY SNAPS AND HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WONDERFUL EVENING OF SATURDAY 6 AUGUST, WHEN WE CELEBRATED THE 731ST BIRTHDAY OF SWITZERLAND AT THE SWISS CLUB.
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EXCERPT FROM SPEECH BY THOMAS VON RUETI, PRESIDENT, SWISS CLUB
A LITTLE BIT OF SWISS CLUB HISTORY… Founded back in 1971 by a group of Swiss pioneers, the Swiss Club was initially called the Swiss Rifle Shooting Club, and yes, as the name said, there were gathered for serious shooting practice. (No worries, there is no more shooting at the Club.)
Another key reason for the Swiss Club’s existence was to offer people a place to build and treasure friendships. That is something which is still true, 150 years later and certainly one of the reasons you are all here tonight.
ON THE RECENT CLUB RENOVATIONS… I want to add a big thank you to the Diethelm Keller Group for their generous sponsorship in support of the Pavilion project. The founding families of the Diethelm and Keller group belong to the Swiss pioneers who moved to Asia in 1860 and built successful businesses which still exist today. A big thank you once again.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT… I promised it wouldn’t be a long speech, but there are some interesting facts I wanted to share with you. Annually, the average Swiss consumes: 36 litres of wine, 57 litres of beer, 11 kilograms of chocolate, 23 kilograms of cheese. And all this with an average BMI of less than 24!
How?
DIGITAL IS GOOD, PHYSICAL IS BETTER… Just a year ago, due to COVID, this beautiful festive setting was unimaginable… We had to celebrate our national day virtually, just like the year before, when the pandemic hit us for the first time. After three years, we can finally meet in person again – wonderful!
I suppose we can all agree, no matter how much we appreciate the benefits of the digital world, it is so much better to be back here on the Swiss Club grounds, celebrating together with you, just like in the old days.
ON SEIZING OPPORTUNITIES TO CELEBRATE AMID CHALLENGES… This year hasn’t left us short of challenges. Just as the world economy started to recover, the geopolitical dynamics have taken a turn for the worse in Europe… Suddenly, wars of conquest are back. Global divisions have deepened. Prices have soared. And all this, at a time when the pandemic has yet to fully subside… Against this background, however, the saying “Man sollte die Feste feiern, wie sie fallen” – or in English, “One should celebrate the festivals as they fall”, rings true to us.
Let us also be aware of, and cherish, the privilege of being alive and well in this lush and safe garden city. Let us salute our good fortune to be here in such a beautiful and freshly renovated setting of the Swiss Club, which for no less than 150 years has served as a small paradise for all Swiss and friends of Switzerland in Singapore.
LET'S HAVE SOME FUN IN THE TROPICAL SUN!
DATE | TIME | VENUE | 30 APRIL 2023 11AM - 3PM LEISURE POOL
HERE COMES THE SUMMERFEST!
Saturday, 3 June 2023, 10am – 3pm, Soccer Field
Welcome summer in the northern hemisphere at our feel-good mid-year carnival, the Swiss Club Summerfest. Enjoy delicious eats and treats, chilled craft beer and wine, a live deejay, game booths, eclectic pop-up stores and – back by popular demand – a dunk tank!
