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Volunteer Role: ANZA Photography Group Coordinator

ANZA Click is a social and friendly group of like-minded snappers, made up of beginners, amateur enthusiasts, and anyone with an interest in photography. Right now, we are looking for an enthusiastic coordinator to lead the group.

The ANZA Click Coordinator is a volunteer role that requires managing the ANZA Click Facebook page, coordinating group meet ups, contributing Click news to the ANZA head office and selecting ‘best of’ images from the group for the ANZA Magazine (every second month).

If you’re interested then we would love to hear from you via email at info@anza.org.sg.

 

 

Christmas Family Fun in Singapore

  1. The Nutcracker and the Whimsical Realms of Christmas

Discover the whimsical wonderland of The Nutcracker at Capitol Singapore and Chijmes. The Capitol’s Outdoor Plaza will transform into the Land of Snowflakes, featuring traditional Nutcracker soldiers. Visitors will be treated to a 3-D installation designed to trick the eye, a daily evening snowfall, and singalongs with an impressive 8-metre tall singing tree. Kids will love the craft workshops at Capitol Theatre and a Christmas Market at the mall.

Afterwards, head to Chijmes and dine on the lawn in air-conditioned private bubble domes (also available at Capitol Outdoor Plaza). While you’re there, check out the Nutcracker-themed Christmas scenes projected on the walls of Chijmes’ Hall, which serve as the background to a dazzling light and music show.

Where: Christmas at Capitol Singapore and Chijmes
When: Until 25 December
christmas.capitolsingapore.com or chijmes.com.sg


  1. LEGO® Festive Carnival

Check out the largest LEGO Festive Carnival in Southeast Asia, with an array of spectacular brick displays. Meet the Gingerbread Man and Santa Claus under the 7-metre tall Christmas tree carousel at Bugis Junction; pose with enchanting animals on the carousel at IMM; catch Santa Claus, the Jester and the Ringmaster at the circus display at Bedok Mall, Bukit Panjang Plaza and Bugis+; hop on a round-trip to nowhere on the giant Rock & Roller Coaster at Plaza Singapura and Junction 8; capture your Christmas moment beside the enormous Ferris Wheel overflowing with gifts at Tampines Mall, Funan and JCube and have a whaley good time at the tropical-themed Christmas display at SingPost Centre and Westgate. 

Where: 13 CapitaLand malls across the island
When: Until 31 December
capitaland.com

  1. Christmas Wonderland at Gardens by the Bay

Singapore’s biggest Christmas festive event, Gardens by the Bay in the Walk of Lights will feature light shows in brand new designs, including the Spalliera, Path of Tranquility, Cassa Armonica, and more. Looking to avoid the crowds? There’s also an enchanting digital wonderland, featuring festive performances, interactive content and games galore for all ages, which can be accessed from the comfort of your home.

Where: Gardens by the Bay
When: Walk of Lights 6.30pm – 11.00pm 4-27 Dec
christmaswonderland.sg

  1. Universal Studios Singapore

Resorts World Sentosa presents A Universal Christmas at Universal Studios Singapore. Meet the Merry Minions of Christmas, enjoy fun photo moments with Trolls Poppy and Branch, check out interactive movie sets, and groove to the tropical Christmas beats of Madagascar with your favourite wild characters! Don’t forget to let loose on the thrilling rides while you’re there.

Where: Universal Studios Singapore
When: Until 3 Jan 2021
rwsentosa.com

  1. Snow City’s Winter Wonderland

Take a family trip to Winter Wonderland at the North Pole – no quarantine required! Kids will have a blast at the Arctic snow playground, sliding down the 60-metre long snow slope and spinning around the ice on bumper cars. After all that activity, snuggle up on the snow field and catch a Christmas storytelling session. A great way to escape the tropical heat and get a taste of a white Christmas. 

Where: Snow City, 21 Jurong Town Hall Road, 609433
When: Tuesdays – Sundays. Check their website for session times.
snowcity.com.sg

  1. Jewel Changi Airport

Experience Jewel Changi Airport without the hordes of travellers making their way home for the holidays! Rug up in your winter woollies and dive into a snowfall at Shiseido Forest Valley, visit the 16-metre tall Christmas tree, home to Santa’s workshop, then check out the festive market and dinosaur-themed go kart experience.

Where: Jewel Changi Airport, 78 Airport Blvd, 819666
When: 6–8, 13–15, 20–25 December, 1pm, 3pm, 5pm, 7pm jewelchangiairport.com/en/promotion/SparklingChristmasAtJewel

  1. S.E.A Aquarium

S.E.A Aquarium has been transformed for the holiday season with specially designed light effects and fascinating soundscapes. Head to new zones like Shipwrecked!, where you’ll see how a sunken vessel leads to a thriving new habitat. Be dazzled by the colour of The Gift of Life exhibit – where children will learn all about coral reefs and the many lives that depend on them. Stop by the Gift of Well Wishes, a sustainable Christmas tree assembled from recyclable materials and symbolising a greener world for future generations. Finish at The Gift of Joy, giant walk-in presents that provide the perfect backdrop for your festive family photos.

Where: S.E.A. Aquarium, 8 Sentosa Gateway, 098269
When: Until 5 Jan 2021
rwsentosa.com/en/attractions/sea-aquarium

  1. Santa Run for Wishes

Make-a-Wish Singapore’s annual Santa Run for Wishes has returned this year with a virtual format and family-friendly activities. Join a collective race to the North Pole (21,517km!) and bring Santa back to spread the festive joy. Choose from 2km, 5km, 10km or 50km race categories and spread a little Christmas cheer for a children’s charity organisation that grants the wishes of children with critical illnesses.

When: 2-19 December
Register at web.42race.com/race-bundle/santarunforwishes

 

 

Best Ever Pav Recipe!

The origin of this beloved meringue cake has been debated for decades, with both New Zealand and Australia claiming it as theirs. Legend has it that Chef Bert Sachse, from the Esplanade Hotel in Perth, named his cake in honour of Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova in 1935. However, Chef Sachse later acknowledged that the recipe he used was from a 1929 cookery book, The New Zealand Dairy Exporter.
So with all due respect to our Tasman neighbours, we’re staking our claim on this one – here’s one of the most widely used pavlova recipes in New Zealand. Give it a go and let us know what you think! Send us a photo at nzhc.sin@mfat.govt.nz and we’ll feature the best-looking shots on our Facebook page.

 

What’s a pav without some fruit on top?

INGREDIENTS
6 egg whites
Pinch of salt
2 cups caster sugar
1½ tsp vinegar
1½ tsp vanilla essence
1½ tsp cornflour
Whipped cream and fresh fruit (we recommend Kiwis!)

METHOD
1. Preheat oven to 150˚C. Line a baking tray with baking paper and draw a 20cm circle on it. Turn over the paper so that the pencil line doesn’t transfer to your pavlova!
2. Using an electric mixer, beat the egg whites and salt until stiff, then add the sugar very gradually while still beating. Keep beating for 5 minutes to dissolve the sugar.
3. Slow the beater speed and add the vinegar, vanilla and cornflour.
4. Pile the meringue in the centre of the circle and use a spatula to spread it out to the edge of the circle, keeping it as round and even as possible. Make a slight dip in the top.
5. Bake for 45 minutes, then leave to cool in the oven overnight.
6. Using two spatulas, lift it carefully onto a serving plate and fill the central depression with whipped cream and fresh fruit.

Surviving 2020 Through Clenched Teeth

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Has COVID-19 made you grind your teeth?

Bruxism, or the grinding and clenching of teeth, can happen when someone is awake or asleep. It’s a common dental complaint, with up to 30% of patients affected. Symptoms can be varied and can be visible both inside and outside the mouth.

Signs and symptoms:

The most common reason for patients to seek help is when they begin noticing chips and fractures of their teeth. Your dentist can spot other signs, such as tooth wear and soft tissue trauma along your cheeks and tongue. Other symptoms such as headaches, tight muscles and a sore jaw joint/earache may also be clues. Your dentist will do an examination of some of your chewing muscles and may find knots and trigger points, which you had not noticed before!

Risk factors:

Besides stress, patients who have sleep issues, such as sleep apnea, may be at more risk of Bruxism. Certain medications or use of drugs/alcohol may also contribute. While the way your teeth bite together may not cause you to clench and grind, having teeth that are crooked could make you more likely to suffer chips.

With Bruxism, teeth may continue to chip, even after your dentist has repaired them, and you may notice that your fillings keep breaking. Over time, grinding teeth can wear away the enamel, and even into deeper teeth structures, often causing the need for more invasive treatments, like crowns.

Treatment:

Ideally, we would like to stop the clenching and grinding, but this is not always immediately possible. Often dentists try to reduce the strength of muscle contraction by using a bite guard on your teeth. This limits damage to your teeth by reducing chips and wear, but also helps to prevent the muscles from getting overworked and developing knots. The bite guard also aims to “de-program” the muscles and stop the clenching feedback cycle. Sometimes muscle relaxant injectables like Botox are also used on the jaw muscles.

It is important to look for an underlying cause for the clenching. Often, stress in our daily lives manifests as clenching and grinding at night. So, there may be merit to approaching the problem more holistically. Introducing stress-reducing activities like yoga and meditation into your daily routine may help reduce stress levels and reduce Bruxism.

Get in touch with us if you would like more information at info@expatdental.com

 

 

10 Minutes With….Stefan Wood

Stefan Wood in pilot mode

Where are you from originally? A bit of a mixed bag! I was born in London, moved to Australia at three weeks old, lived in Melbourne until I was 19, then moved to Darwin. I’ve lived in Singapore for 13 years and originally came here as an airline pilot.

What are your ANZA connections? I’m a proud ANZA Singapore Wombat AFL player and a member of ANZA Click! Photography. I joined ANZA for the likeminded people, sharing ideas, networking and the sporting angle.

Stefan is a proud ANZA Singapore Wombat AFL player and avid photographer for Click!

What drew you to the skies? I often joke when I took my first flight as a newborn it made an impression! Mum was an avid traveller and I remember cockpit visits and sitting in jump seats in the flight deck, if only we could still do this today.

How long have you been in aviation?
28 years. I’ve started and run a business in Darwin, been an airline pilot and now I’m back to what I love most, business. My charter companies offer a range of services, including aircraft acquisition, management and charter.

How have you been directly impacted by COVID-19? We had a few months where there were simply no flights. The demand was there but getting permits to fly became nearly impossible. If it wasn’t a diplomatic mission it simply didn’t happen. We had to adapt and change, this is when we moved into group air charter and working with airlines to charter their aircraft. Covid has certainly had its challenges, however we are emerging stronger than ever.

Has 2020 been your biggest career challenge? Great question and to be honest, no. I started a business in Darwin at 22 with one aircraft, grew to 46 aircraft and had a great 10 years. I managed to fill in a lot of the cliches, growing too big, too quickly. Eventually the company was liquidated, and that year was without a doubt my hardest year.

You were a category winner for career achievement in the Young Australian of the Year awards? It was an amazing experience. The year before was even more special to me as I was awarded Young Territorian of the Year. These honours reflected what I did with my business in the early days.

How do you hope to spend the festive season this year? I’m trying to get to Australia for Christmas, as I haven’t been back since March. Normally I’m there twice a month. Currently I am trying to get approval for a series of repatriation charters to Darwin.

singaporeaircharter.com

Tips for buying an Australian Investment Property

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There’s lots to consider when buying an Australian investment property

Q. “My family and I are considering buying an Australian investment property; however, we are not sure whether it is the right time and if there are any adverse tax consequences whilst we are expatriates?”

A. The Job Keeper program in Australia is in the process of scaling down until it finishes at the end of March 2021, together with bank loan repayment holidays coming to an end, largely in quarter 1, 2021. The combination of removing two relief programs from the economy could result in an additional supply of properties, which in turn could push some prices down and result in good buying opportunities. That said, the property market is complex, and I would always recommend speaking with an expert in this area.

There are however Australian Tax considerations for buying (and selling) Australian property when you are living offshore as a non-resident. These include:

Capital Gains Tax: As a non-resident of Australia for tax purposes, you are exempt from the 50% capital gains tax discount for the period when you resided offshore post 8 May 2012 (when this new rule came in), compared to the total period of ownership on a pro-rate basis. So, if you held an investment property for 10 years, 5 of which you were a non-resident, then on sale, you would qualify for a 25% capital gains tax discount only.

Also a major change that came into effect from 1 July 2020 was the removal of the capital gains tax Principal Place of Residence (PPR) exemption for non-residents, meaning that if you sell a property which has a PPR exemption period (i.e. you used to live in it for a period of time) while you are a non-resident of Australia for tax purposes, you will forgo this exemption. This does not affect those buying a future family home as an expat as you need to live in the property first for it to start accruing this tax free period, however this is a consideration for those selling a former family home during their time as an expat. If you are considering buying a future family home and renting it out until you return to Australia, these concessions are still available to you, however only for the period when you live in the property in the future and providing you sell it when you are a tax resident.

Negative gearing benefits are still available as an expat buyer, meaning that if you make a tax loss at the end of the year, this will then carry forward (assuming you have no other Australian sourced income to use it against) and be a future benefit to you against future Australian salary and wages, capital gains and other Australian sourced income and these losses will carry forward indefinitely. Interest, genuine repairs and maintenance and depreciation are all deductible (just to name a few) which can result in creating some useful additional tax losses for the future.

When considering a future property purchase, ensure you have done your cash flows to make sure you can afford it, now and into the future, including taking into consideration rental reductions and interest rate rises.

Tristan is an Australian Tax Agent and expatriate tax advisor based in Singapore, contact him below to discuss your situation in further detail. Select Investors Australia also presents regular webinars around these topics. The most recent Australian Property Market Update webinar is accessible at selectinvestorsevents.com

** The above commentary is general in nature and we always recommend speaking with us about your specific situation so we can provide tailored tax advice. Please do reach out for an obligation free tax consultation. Please contact us to discuss your specific circumstances on tristan.perry@selectinvestorsaustralia.sg The levels and bases of taxation, and relief from taxation, can change at any time. The value of any tax relief depends on individual circumstances.

ANZA Cycling, Let’s Get Social Initiative

ANZA Cycling has become legendary in Singapore for its strong, social community, strict safety code and incredible riding opportunities. Over 450 active members ride around the island in bunches, pretty much every day of the year. Our club sections include Road, Off Road, Racing, Triathlon and women’s only Cycling Chix.

Now is a great time to join, with ANZA Cycling’s Let Get Social initiative in full swing. When you go for post ride brekkie, lunch or drinks the club will pay the first $75. If your group includes one or more new member (this might be you!), your group will receive $100.

T&Cs apply. To find out more about ANZA Cycling or to join, click here.

Join the Community!

Your Guide to La Dolce Vita in Kampong Glam

Recently, ANZA members set off with Kristen Hobby on a Tour Bite to discover famous swiss rolls, cupcakes, local kueh, local chocolates, smoothies and ice cream, and indulge in a delicious tiramisu made by a Japanese Sushi chef. 

If you missed the Tour Bite but would like to enjoy this fabulous experience, Kristen and fellow ANZA Tour Committee member Kristie, have created a guide to the La Dolce Vita in Kampong Glam Tour Bite.

Download your copy here and enjoy!

 

4 things you should know about getting married in Singapore

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With COVID-19 measures in Singapore being constantly updated, many couples will find themselves having to revise their wedding plans at short notice, or even delaying the special day until things are much calmer and safer. For those that are adamant about keeping to their wedding date, Pacific Prime Singapore has some advice for getting married in Singapore during the pandemic.

1.   Number of people allowed at the wedding

For solemnisations held at home, up to 10 people can attend, excluding the Licensed Solemniser, the interpreter (if required), and vendors (kept to a minimum). However, for solemnisations held at other venues, couples can invite up to 100 people, excluding the Licensed Solemniser, the interpreter (if any), and vendors (kept to a minimum). Invitees must be split into multiple zones with no more than 50 people in any one zone. For instance, 100 guests must be split into two groups of no more than 50 people.

2.   Safety precautions to adhere to at the wedding

During the ceremony, the wedding couple must wear their face masks or face shields. However, they are allowed to remove their face coverings at key stages of the solemnisation process, which includes the exchanging of vows and rings, the kiss, and during march-ins/outs. In addition, the couple must maintain a two-metre distance from the rest of the attendees whenever masks and face shields have been removed.

3.   Focus on the wedding

During this pandemic, the best thing any wedding couple can do is to lower their expectations and focus more on the purpose of getting married. After all, a wedding is about the couple pledging their love for one another, right? Being realistic and embracing the experience is all that matters.

4.   Consider securing health insurance

Once married, you may want to turn your attention to getting coverage for COVID-19 for your family, especially if you are planning to have children down the line. If you don’t know where to begin, Pacific Prime Singapore can help.

To learn more about what Pacific Prime Singapore can offer, you can contact the broker and compare health insurance plans for individuals and families today!

JCU: The Place for Gaming Enthusiasts

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Associate Professor Roberto Dillon with participants at the 5th Retro Inspired 2019 Game Jam, 8 November 2019

With the world in the grip of a pandemic, video games present a captivating form of escape – whether it is building a life on an island paradise or puzzling out a mystery with friends online, or more. But beyond the obvious joy of connecting with something interactive and exciting, there’s something deeper to video games that the Singapore campus of James Cook University (JCU) recognises. “Game development merges technology and design in a unique mix that makes both teaching and learning a truly rewarding experience,” says Dr Roberto Dillon – Academic Head of Science and Technology, and Associate Professor of Information Technology at JCU.

It comes as no surprise, then, that for creative minds who are interested in crafting amazing video game worlds for us to escape to, JCU offers game design programs such as the Bachelor of Information Technology and the Master of Information Technology (Majoring in Interactive Technologies and Games Design).

The Bachelor of Information Technology provides a solid foundation for knowledge and skills essential for professional IT careers, along with subjects in interactive visualisation, games, design thinking, programming and more.

Meanwhile, the Interactive Technologies and Game Design major dives deeper into front and back end integration of interactive technology design, with the technological and software engineering skills applicable to games design execution.

What’s more, the Singapore campus is home to Singapore’s only video game museum. Visitors to the museum can learn about gaming’s vast history through informative posters and hands on opportunities with well-known retro consoles such as the original Xbox and the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES), to more obscure ones like the Vectrex and the Magnavox Odyssey, along with their accompanying games and related paraphernalia.

In previous years, the Singapore campus would also host an annual Retro Inspired event, which provides participants with the opportunity to have hands on experience in developing a video game within the time limit of 24 hours. This allows them to forge a more profound understanding of the challenges in game development, like limited resources and a tight schedule, which is particularly useful for those who study the subject. While the pandemic has had an impact on extra-curriculum activities this year, JCU hopes to make up for it in the near future.

After all, gaming and games development are not just fantastical getaways, but they are also ways for us to show our sense of innovation and creativity.

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