By Clement Hendricks, Dy Chairman 2 EXCO NDP 2009

I would like to share the experience of being the Chairman of the Infrastructure at the Padang for both the year 2000 and 2005. The challenges faced for these two NDP events were largely the same, however, the difference with 2005; I had the hindsight and experience of doing it in 2000.

Anyone attending the Parade at the Padang would realise that all the seating for the spectators had to be built. In 2000, we went away from the traditional ‘dixon’ stands that were erected by our own Combat Engineers to the commercially available tiered tubular seats. Although we obtained the tubular seats commercially, we still relied on our own Combat Engineers to assemble the stands for the seating gallery. Our own engineer company from 30 SCE did a fantastic job.

Another challenge that needed to be overcome when constructing the tubular stands at the opposite end of the Padang was the existing historic trees that line the Esplanade Walk. Even the trimming of trees required close cooperation with NParks who supervised the trimming to the minimum necessary for our tubular stands and backdrop structures for the huge multimedia screens. At the Padang where everything had to be built from scratch, the intimate collaboration with the Authorities at each stage of the built up was necessary and I must add that without the support given by them, many of the ideas and grand scheme of things would not have materialized. There was greater partnership and closer working relationship all throughout the journey, which I am told, was not the same for Stadium or Marina Floating Platform as most of the infrastructure is already there.

For NDP 2000, City Hall was still occupied and a functioning Court. This posed many problems as much of the building was restricted and we did not have much space within the building to house our things that needed to be stored after the rehearsals, example the VIP chairs and other electrical and electronic equipment. Decorating the Grand Old Lady was conceived during our Division Exercise by a designer who was our Bde GFAC and during approval of plan, we presented the façade treatment of City Hall to EXCO Chairman / then Division Commander and currently CDF.

For NDP 2005, City Hall was a shell, the new Court Building was already functioning and we had clear run of the whole building. Infrastructure Committee room was Court 13 and the Judges Chambers were our dining room. We had ample rooms to keep our chairs, equipment and stores. It was easier to manage. Only downside was the elevators were not well maintained and EXCO Chairman and a few sub-committee chairmen were stuck in one of the lifts for almost half an hour. Unless we were going to the rooftop, most of us used the staircase.

For NDP 2005, the then Commander 5 SIB and current Dy Chairman EXCO COL Ho Kok Loke was in charge of the Decorations and true to the task given, adorned the space between the grand columns with scenes and created a beautiful facade. With him taking care of the decorations it helped half the workload that Chairman Infrastructure undertook in NDP 2000.

For both NDP 2000 and 2005, the challenge after each rehearsal was to carry out infrastructure works for the various sub-committees requirements, which had to be fast tracked, as they needed them done as soon as possible to enable rehearsals to take place during the week before the next CR. However, having stated all the challenges and problems needed to complete the infrastructure to support NDP at the Padang, the team that assisted me from HQ 5 SIB for both NDPs carried out their assigned mission excellently. On each rehearsal and especially on the Actual Day when you gaze out onto the Padang from behind the Huge Grand Colonnade of City Hall, you just have to marvel at how everything was going on the very infrastructure base that had been built from zero to the spectacle that was unveiling to the audience at our National Day Parade Celebrations.

As the dust settled on the final day, as you walked away from the Padang, sadly you realise that it is all over and the task of recovery and reinstatement of the Padang was going to start immediately the following day. Part of the tubular stands had to immediately be torn down since they were heading for Sepang Grand Prix. All the stands in front of the Supreme Court, City Hall (inclusive of the VIP section) and St Andrew’s Cathedral had to be removed within ten days after which damage control measures and rectification of the Padang and City Hall landscape had to start before handing back the field to Singapore Recreation Club and Cricket Club. Two weeks after National Day, you could not see any trace of NDP except for the street banners that would not be taken down until the end of August. All in all, you work very hard to set it all up for two and a half months only to tear everything down within two weeks and get the Padang back to normalcy.

The involvement and experience was exhilarating and one be there and do it to feel it. The fact that I am an Architect in private practice helped me a great deal in meeting the task at hand and with the support of the personnel of 5 SIB for both NDP 2000 and 2005; we achieved our mission to build the infrastructure needed to successfully stage the National Day Parade at the Padang.

Hope you enjoyed the post! Take a look at his previous entries, one describing his NDP experience as a school boy and another one posted yesterday on being commanders within the parade.