FRIENDSHIP in this estate is BLOOMING
Genevieve Jiang, New Paper 8 Apr 08;
SHE did not know any of her neighbours, but that did not stop Mrs Chew Swee Liang from going door to door trying to convince them to transform the drab, grey pavements outside their homes into blooming gardens.
The 72-year-old retired physiotherapist gathered more than 170 signatures of support from residents living along Mimosa Crescent, where she lives, and the nearby Nim Road and Neram Crescent in the Seletar Hills West estate.
That was three years ago.
Today, the estate - made up mostly of bungalows - boasts colourful roadside gardens.
And the residents have not just beautified the neighbourhood, they have found friends.
Mrs Chew said: 'I have lived here for close to 11 years, and only said 'Hi' and 'Bye' to my next-door neighbour.
'It wasn't until three years ago, when this project was started, that residents along the entire road started to interact.
'And today, we're a community of best friends.'
The project started in June 2005 after Mrs Chew was inspired by reports about the Mayfair Park estate, where residents had been growing vegetables on a small plot of land.
The cracked pavements outside her home also spurred her into action.
Mrs Chew said: 'I found the cracked pavements a bit of an eyesore and thought, when the authorities start repairing them, why not create some space for mini pavement gardens at the same time?'
AUTHORITIES LEND A HAND
So she met with her Member of Parliament, Dr Balaji Sadasivan, and sought the approval of the Seletar Hills West Neighbourhood Committee.
She called The National Parks Board (NParks), and it advised her to seek the approval of her neighbours.
She distributed fliers. But at the start, only three residents responded.
So she went door to door and managed to convince more than 30 households along Mimosa Crescent to agree.
Mrs Chew also liaised with the Land Transport Authority to allow sunken plots called 'planters', measuring 1m-by-4m, on the pavements.
NParks then spread topsoil over the plots.
The residents went to work, and five months later, slabs of grey concrete were replaced by lush greenery and bright flowers.
That same year, Mrs Chew and her neighbours took part in the NParks' inaugural Community In Bloom (CIB) Awards, where prizes were given to estates and schools with the best gardens.
They were awarded a certificate of accomplishment.
After that, Mrs Chew and her neighbours roped in more residents at Nim Road and Neram Crescent.
The project has since snowballed.
Today, four roads - more than 170 households - are involved in the project.
In 2006, the group came in second in the CIB awards. Last year, they clinched two golds and a bronze at the NParks' Gardener's Pride contest.
They have even extended their gardening efforts to the nearby Mimosa Park. And now, Mrs Chew hopes to spread the gardening bug to all 35 roads throughout Seletar Hills West.
Over the past three years, the residents' shared passion for gardening has also allowed their 'kampung spirit' to blossom.
Mrs Louisa Ng, a retiree in her 60s, who has been living along Saraca Road for 17 years, said: 'In the past three years, we've grown so close that we have meals together and exercise together almost every other day.'
And it is common for neighbours to visit each other whenever one of them falls ill.
When Mrs Ng's granddaughter sprained her ankle last year, Mrs Chew helped massage the girl and gave her tips on how to get better.
Another resident, Mrs Rena Li, 62, who runs her own business, said: 'A few days ago, my mother-in-law fell and had a bump on her head.
'I immediately called Mrs Chew for advice on how to bring down the swelling.
'It is true that in times of emergency, your neighbours are more important than your relatives. I have no doubt that my neighbours will stand by me when I need help.'
