Myra Cresson Explained

Myra Isabelle Cresson (née Chamarette; born 2 November 1904) was a social worker in Singapore. She served as the president of the Inner Wheel Club of Singapore and as the Colony Commissioner of the Singapore Girl Guides Association.

Early life and education

Cresson was born at the Queen Mary Hospital in Hong Kong on 2 November 1904 to a French father and a Portuguese mother living in Macau. She was the younger of two daughters. She and her family moved to Hong Kong, where they remained for several years before moving again to Prinsep Street in Singapore. They later moved to a house on Bencoolen Street. She received her education at the Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus.[1]

Career

Cresson was appointed the chairman of the Good Shepherd Convent fancy fair committee, which was established to aid the Good Shepherd Convent's building fund.[2] On 5 August 1948, she was officially appointed the president of the Singaporean branch of the Inner Wheel Club for the wives, sisters, unmarried daughters, mothers and widows of the Rotary Club of Singapore, of which she was a founding member. Her husband was the Rotary Club's president.[3] She served as the club's president until 1949, and was again appointed its president in 1951, serving until the following year.[4] In the absence of Lady Gimson, she acted as the president of the Voluntary Workers of the Children's Social Centres.[5] She also served as the chairman of the committee of the Department of Social Welfare.[6] She was conferred the MBE in 1952 for her contributions to social work in Singapore.[7]

In 1952, Cresson was appointed the founding president of the Girl Guides' Central Local Association. In 1957 she became the first Singaporean Colony Commissioner of the Singapore Girl Guides Association. She served as the association's president until February 1959.[8] [4]

Personal life

Cresson married Lionel Cresson in 1926 and moved to Pasir Panjang.[1]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Cresson, Myra Isabelle (Mrs). 20 May 2024 . nas.gov.sg . .
  2. News: 14 October 1948. Titled Refugees To Stay In Singapore. The Straits Times. Singapore. 20 May 2024.
  3. News: 6 August 1948. Husband & Wife Rotary Leaders. The Singapore Free Press. Singapore. 20 May 2024.
  4. Web site: Portrait of Mrs. Myra Cresson, founder of Inner Wheel Club of Singapore . 20 May 2024 . . .
  5. News: Diemer. Christine. 16 December 1951. Best Christmas Ever For Social Welfare Children. The Sunday Standard. Singapore. 20 May 2024.
  6. News: 31 August 1952. 20 Children Saw the Blue Waves. The Straits Times. Singapore. 20 May 2024.
  7. Web site: Coffee in the Basement, Tea on the Second Floor: A Short History of John Little at Raffles Place. Yap. Jo Lin. BiblioAsia. National Library Board. 20 May 2024.
  8. News: Chua. Rebecca. 12 March 1985. Movement that's a Guiding light. The Straits Times. Singapore. 20 May 2024.