Social work pioneer turns 90
Few people could claim to have a life truly contributing to society. Not only has Mrs Ann Elizabeth Wee — the mother of social work education in Singapore — been doing so, she is still actively pursuing her passion at 90.
The NUS Associate Professorial Fellow celebrated her birthday, which was on 27 July, with NUS Social Work staff, students, alumni and guests at the NUS Society Kent Ridge Guild House on 19 August. Mrs Wee joined the Department of Social Studies in 1957 at the then University of Malaya, an NUS predecessor institution. She became the Head of Department 10 years later, and was the longest-serving head when she stepped down at 60.
Special guest Minister for Social and Family Development (MSF) Tan Chuan-Jin congratulated her and Mrs Jean Marshall, who also turned 90 this year. Mrs Marshall, the widow of Singapore’s first Chief Minister David Marshall, is another pioneer and compatriot in social work education.
Mr Tan pointed out that social work is not just about helping the vulnerable; it is also “about providing an opportunity for us to be able to make that difference”.
Social work students having a group shot with Mrs Wee
In a conversation moderated by Head of NUS Social Work Associate Professor Esther Goh, Mrs Wee’s close friends and a former student shared anecdotes about her.
Professor Chan Heng Chee, Ambassador-at-Large and NUS Board Member, recalled her first indelible image of Mrs Wee — an elegant lady putting on a scarf and zooming off in her open-hood sports car, “a regular Grace Kelly of her time in Singapore”. As the University of Singapore’s Political Science head and one of the rare female senior academics then, Prof Chan would often seek counsel from Mrs Wee. The diplomat paid tribute to Mrs Wee, calling her “an inspiration because you have a positive view of life”.
Also relating their personal experiences with Mrs Wee were retired NUS Librarian Mrs Lee Wang Cheng Yeng, whose mother was a family friend of the “nonagenarian extraordinaire”; Mrs Marshall; and voluntary welfare organisation Promoting Alternatives to Family Violence Executive Director Dr Sudha Nair, Mrs Wee’s student who recently won the Her World’s Woman of the Year award for her social work.
Panellists at the conversation session: (from left) Assoc Prof Goh, Prof Chan, Mrs Lee, Dr Nair, Mrs Wee and Mrs Marshall
Mrs Wee highlighted that social work symbolises a vote of confidence for the country as the field is about change. She also unveiled her forthcoming book, A Tiger Remembers: The Way We were in Singapore, which captures her experience as a new expatriate and the island state’s welfare services in the 1950s and ’60s. The book was endorsed by the late Mr S R Nathan, and it will be published by NUS Press in October.
“One very dear friend of social work was the former President S R Nathan. One of his last deeds the Thursday before he fell sick was to give me an endorsement to the cover of my book. I’m very touched that even though he wasn’t well, he would do this,” said Mrs Wee.
She continued, “He was one university student whose research forced the government to open the department and that’s very unique. He discovered debt slavery among Asian seamen; this forced the government to start the Seaman’s Registry. And S R Nathan was the Welfare Officer.
“This is a unique thing that we ought to feel proud of — that one of our students did something that, I don’t think any student has done, which is to actually induce the government to act.”
Mrs Wee presenting Mr Tan with a cover of her forthcoming book entitled A Tiger Remembers: The Way We Were in Singapore
The Ann Wee NUS Social Work Alumni Award, set up and named after Mrs Wee to recognise NUS Social Work alumni who have made major contributions to social work education and practice, was then presented to Ms Chee Liee Chin, Senior Principal Social Worker, Office of the Director of Social Welfare, MSF; Ms Jenny Bong, Group Executive Director, Methodist Welfare Services; and Ms Ng Ai Ling, Principal Medical Social Worker, Institute Of Mental Health.
