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Post-war
This was when the Japanese surrendered to the British at the end of World War II, and Singapore was temporarily controlled by British military administration. -
Straits Settlements Are Moved Out of Singapore
Singapore became a separate crown colony and Britain was prepared to increase self-governance for Singapore. -
Doreen's Birth
Doreen Lim Mui Koon is the fifth child of a family of 10 children. A midwife came to the house to help deliver her. That was very common at the time and she also witnessed her brothers and sisters being delivered at her home. -
Walk down Chinatown
Doreen and her father walk the streets of Chinatown to get some supplies for his next trip. Chinese New Year has just ended and the stall owners are yet to remove their decorations. But there's always a celebration in Chinatown. "During Chinese New Year this is a favourite place to go and shop, where you can buy all the traditional items for decorations and foods which you eats only during Chinese New Year." -
Visit to the Convent
Doreen's family was never really religious, but her mother believed that the people at the convent would treat her daughter well. It was around that year that she followed her mother to the convent, where they left her sister in the caring hands of the nuns. Her mother tried to ask for updates on her sister but the nuns refused to give any information. (This picture seemed to be taken around the time when Doreen’s sister was given away and it is of a Convent Orphanage) -
Singapore becomes self-ruled
Britian agreed for Singapore to be a self-ruled government. -
Singapore Attains Self-government
Lee Kuan Yew became the first Prime Minister of Singapore and is often known as the Father of Singapore. He is also credited for being the founding father for transforming modern singapore. -
Race Riots in Singapore
There was a race riot in Singapore between the Chinese and Malay groups. It was quite a violent one and the government had to declare a curfew for 11 days, which was only be lifted for a short period of time for people to buy food. "It was a feeling of fear and anticipation. Once I remembered my brother and I running back from school because the curfew was going to start. The roads were in mad rush, people rushing to go home. When the food was running out, simple biscuits tasted very nice -
Doreen's Wedding
Doreen is married to Meng Liang. They have a modest Chinese wedding and settle down in a small house in Bukit Merah. At that time Meng Liang had a job in commercial art and Doreen was a secretary working for her uncle's business. (The actual date of their wedding is estimated and any other details of the wedding are extremely private. Also Bukit Merah is a street in Singapore and is translated to 'red hill' in Malay because of the red soil and "blood soaked" appearance)
