“Believe it or not, our whole team managed to ‘jaga’ (take care of) every single plant and tree on our own.”
At Paya Lebar, Ling and her colleagues would cut the plants themselves or prune the trees that needed maintenance. They could also identify and locate every plant, tree, and flower there.
Even though she had initially taken the job for financial stability, Ling found herself deeply invested in the work – the job was a perfect fit for her.
In 1981, when the airport moved to Changi, Ling had to choose: Stay with the airport or find another job. It was an easy decision – she was excited about planning the greenery for this new plot of land, which was many times larger.
When the airport was corporatised in 2009, Ling became a manager in Changi Airport Group’s Horticulture team. Hers is the only team overseeing the airport’s outdoor landscaping and she said she doesn’t take her role for granted.
“To me, it was always about being there for the plants,” she said. “As long as I can manage the greenery outside the airport, I’m happy.”
Her work, she told CNA Women, can be broken down into two categories: Routine and non-routine tasks.
