Chairman, NYAA Council

Mr Chow Chee Yong

Chairman, NYAA Young Photographers Network

Distinguished guests

Ladies and gentlemen

Over the past few months, the outbreak of SARS has had a tremendous impact on our lives. It affected our vegetable markets and hawker centres. It temporarily shut down our schools. It dramatically affected our travel, retail and other related industries. It made people cautious about going out and disrupted our lives in many ways.

But Singaporeans rallied together in the face of a crisis. We persevered. Most of all, our doctors, nurses and other hospital workers stood their ground and worked on relentlessly in the face of danger. The SARS situation has now improved. Singaporeans should come out to play, to smile at each other and to say, with thanks, that "its good to be alive".

Hence, this afternoon’s event - the Closing Ceremony of Snap Snap! The Big Picture Hunt, jointly organised by the NYAA Young Photographers Network and the National Youth Achievement Award Council – deserves every support.

Today’s photographic journey, organised to help snap the gloom and doom from people’s lives, is a gentle reminder to people that life must go on. I understand, as part of the event, Singaporeans were asked to go out and snap a photograph of something enjoyable or simply donate an existing photograph.

The photographs here today affirm what I have always believed - that Singaporeans can indeed enjoy themselves. More than that, they reaffirm some of the basic values we all hold dear – racial harmony, family togetherness, community bonds, the Singapore way of life etc. Indeed, post-SARS Singapore should be a better Singapore. As we all reflect on precious lessons learnt, I hope we will all become more caring and considerate people, much more prepared to work together than ever before, to make Singapore a vibrant, dynamic home that our children will inherit. In this vein, I am happy to contribute a photograph to this exhibition.

Although this is the Closing Ceremony for Snap Snap! it is not the end for these photos. Selected photographs will be exhibited at various community clubs and other organisations throughout Singapore over the rest of the year. These photographs can therefore continue to inspire by reminding us of some of the worthwhile and meaningful things in life.

This event was organised by a group of young people – the NYAA Young Photographers Network. Snap Snap! is a good example of how young people can, taking up an interest or a passion, channel their energies to making Singapore a better place. And passion is what the NYAA YPN has.

Formed just a few short months ago, you have successfully organized this very meaningful event. As an informal network created by photographers for photographers, comprising both amateurs and professionals, with members coming from diverse cultural and socio-economic backgrounds, photography is an abiding passion that can touch lives. Please continue to touch lives in a way that only you can. I do hope your group will grow from strength to strength. The Inter-Ministry Committee on Youth Crime or IMYC which I chair encourages all Singaporean youths to pursue healthy interests and hobbies. Photography is certainly one of them.

Such efforts to combine an area of interest and service to the community are indeed commendable. I hope the NYAA YPN will serve as an inspiration to others to use their passions and interests to creatively serve our community and nation.

Thank you.