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The Singapore Memory Project Issue 02
iremember goes to Paya Lebar The Singapore Memory Project was proud to bring iremember goes to Paya Lebar to the PassionArts Village organised by the Paya Lebar Community Centre. Held last year at Kovan Hub, the SMP booth was visited by some 500 people. Memories of some residents were showcased on panels during the roadshow and these were later sent to the Paya Lebar Community Centre to be displayed permanently. The residents also shared their memories of the area, contributing photos, filling memory cards and video recording their memories. Over 120 memories were collected. The residents not only enjoyed sharing their stories but also learning about the stories of other residents.
05.
The Singapore Memory Project Issue 02
From Plantation to Paya Lebar Interview by Che Xiaoya
Memory of Lian Ah Moi Lian Ah Moi is in her sixties and retired from the hawker business a few years ago. She lives alone in her house in Paya Lebar. Her early years were spent near Johor Bahru, Malaysia, before she migrated with her whole family to Singapore. The family earned a living through farming and tapping rubber trees. They would wake up at 4 am to tap rubber, which continued until noon. In the afternoon they would work on their plot of land and raise livestock. Their standard of living was poor then, with many of them having to go barefoot and with only shabby clothes for daily work. The girls had to do difficult chores such as drawing water. After moving to Lim Choo Kang in 1967, they gave up rubber-tapping and solely focused on farming and raising livestock. But the economic situation of the family saw little improvement until the early 1980s when they moved to town. Mdm Lian noted that there Paya Lebar has changed a lot since she first came here 10 years ago. More trees have been planted and more parks built, making Paya Lebar a more beautiful and livable place. But Mdm Lian believes that the biggest change lies with the people. In the past they were rather conservative, which could be seen from their style of dressing, while now things have completely changed, with people dressing more casually and sometimes more unconventionally. Also, their mindset has undergone a huge transformation: more and more elderly like Mdm Lian are beginning to set some time aside for self-enrichment. Deprived of a proper education when young, Mdm Lian has taken steps to learn to read. With help from her friend, she has learnt to read simple newspaper articles, which she finds to be a delightful enjoyment.
Popular Markets Once Located Around Paya Lebar Interview by Lily Bok
Memory of Tan Siew Suan Madam Tan Siew Suan, 59, has lived in Paya Lebar since 1977 and currently lives in the Hougang area. Mdm Tan misses the old Lim Tua Tow market and the old Peoples’ Park market near Simon Road (present-day Kovan Residence). She remembers being able to select a live chicken and have it slaughtered on the spot, which is no longer possible now. The stallholders were friendly and would sometimes even deliver their produce. She enjoyed the delicious wonton mee sold at the Lim Tua Tow market. At present she goes to the Hainanese market in Hougang. Mdm Tan has fond memories of her childhood days and home at Raymone Avenue (present Whampoa area). The layout of the buildings there was unusual. The terraced houses formed a rectangle that bordered a field in the centre where boys often played football. She also recalls catching spiders and playing five stones.
This 1983 photograph shows Lim Tua Tow Market (designed by J.Y Dowsett of Van Sitteran circa 1955), located near Upper Serangoon Road. The building and road mentioned are located near the Serangoon Gardens district.