TEDxDuxtonHill
TEDxDuxtonHill is an independently organized TEDx event, licensed by TED. It is completely volunteer-run and financially supported by generous partners.
This chapter of TEDx in Singapore is named after the Duxton Hill area, which sits in the Downtown Core of Singapore, on the former 13-hectares nutmeg plantation with 1,800 trees of Dr J. William Montgomerie (1797–1856), who first arrived in Singapore in 1819 together with the founder of Singapore, Sir Stamford Raffles. Apart from being the first official surgeon in Singapore, his impact on Singapore’s early community went beyond medicine, extending to the administration of the town, new scientific discoveries as well as social activities.
What we particularly admire of Dr Montgomerie was his courage to be different and his progressive outlook. He was probably the only white person who chose to set up residence on the Southern bank of the Singapore River, which was mainly inhabited by the other ethnic groups.
He definitely was one of the few unsung heroes who contributed a lot to the initial founding of Singapore.
In addition to contributing to TED’s vision for ‘ideas worth spreading’, we also hope to promote the values of progressiveness and build a community of change advocates who are courageous like Dr William Montgomerie and be open to stepping up to be the change they want to see.
To know more about us, please visit http://tedxduxtonhill.com/about/