THE BRAT STORY CONTINUES

It will be 3 years in June that ANZ Military Brats of Singapore was first founded.  Founded on a dream of a 14 year old girl who's life was ever-changed after the experience of living on a tiny island somewhere in south east Aisa.  A dream to go back to a time and place she didn't want to let go of, a need to never let the memories fade.  Little did she know then of the technology of our future which would help fulfill the Dream.  In a 'Build it and they will come' moment it became obvious that there were so many more brats who, like that 14 year old, wanted to find and remember their special years in Singapore.  The dream then became a reality which is now shared and enjoyed by so many more Brats of Singapore.
The group has more than doubled in numbers in the last 12 months and I am still amazed that the momentum continues to grow with each new membership.  Our best acheivement to date has to be the Reunion in Canberra last year,  All Thanks went to Gill Pennock for organising what started out as a small casual gathering and quickly eventuated into a very successful function for 40 Brats.  Everyone had such a fantastic time that plans for the next Reunion were all but a done deal before the end of the weekend.  It was time and the time was right. 
Thanks must now go to Wanda Selva for continuing what was started in Canberra.  The use of the internet to reunite Brats is a wonderful thing, but to actually meet up together for the weekend has to be the ultimate for anyone wanting to step back in time to relive a special time from their childhood.
I know that I personally will take home alot of special memories after this weekend which will inspire me even more to keep searching for those brats who are still lost out there somewhere in the world, so that they too can share the Dream.
I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge with much Gratitude the Brat I first met up with who rekindled the dream, another who encouraged me when i needed to be told to keep going through those first awkward months because it needed to be done and showed me that my dream had no boundaries, the Brats who brought such spark and life and smiles when they arrived in the early days, the Brat who saw the dream, built on it and stood beside me, the Brats who supported it and continue to do so,  You all know who you are and of course you are all here tonight.
I was a 14 year old girl who knew how lucky she was to live a couple of years in a Special Place and time.  Now, over 20 years later, I'm back in a Special place with a group of very Special People and I still know just how lucky I am.
Thankyou for keeping the Dream alive for each and every Singapore Brat.
Happy Memories,

Jo-Anne Rendle
Manager of ANZ Military Brats of Singapore