READ NOW - Jakarta Magazine

“I believe I am the first child of a JSAS Chieftain
to be elected – hopefully, the first of many!” –
What brought you to Jakarta and
what keeps you here?
We first came to Jakarta in 1969 when I
was a small (very small!) child, from Brunei.
Although I was soon to go to school, and
then University, in Scotland, my sister and I
travelled back and forth for the holidays.
Following University, I came often to
visit Dad, latterly with my two children
and during one such holiday, in 2007, to
encompass the Jakarta Highland Gathering
of that year, I met the CEO who was to
become my boss. With two daughters,
Brionna, then 16 and Ayley, then 14,
entering crucial exam-filled years at school,
this was a bit of a crazy move! However,
they have really loved their time at BIS and
agree that this has been a tremendous
opportunity for them to experience a
different lifestyle.
We understand you have been
recently elected as Chieftain of the
Java St. Andrew Society. What does
this mean and why is this special to
you?
Agreeing to stand, when appealed to by
some members, was definitely a matter of
heart over head. My head is (still!) saying
‘you must be crazy’, I have other priorities,
but my heart said ‘aye’. Being an ex-pat
child, seeing Dad, Gordon Benton, going off
to be Chieftain in KL, Singapore and Brunei,
before the Java St Andrew Society in 1973/4
(I think I thought he was always Chieftain!!),
I would never have believed it would one
day be me. I do feel very honoured and
conscious of the weight of history, of a
society founded in 1919.
We understand you are also involved
in organising the Jakarta Highland
Gathering. What is this and what do
you do for this event?
I’ve been helping in the Jakarta Highland
Gathering for a couple of years. This is a
very special event for me since Dad was
one of the initiators, back in 1975 and I
helped, and competed in, the first few
annual events.
It’s changed somewhat since that time
and we no longer have to bang in our own
fence posts on the JIS playing fields, worry
about how to import a caber or rely on a
local ‘Heavy’ out of the Sumatran hutan
in a batik kilt to toss it, but the original
philosophy remains.
It is a unique Indonesian, and Scottish,
day-long event in the Highland Gathering
136 | MAY 2011 www.nowjakarta.co.id
SHONA BENTON
tradition, with multiple competitions and
performances of sport, music and dance, all
happening simultaneously. Affordable ticket
prices enable up to 10,000 Indonesians
and Ex-Patriates, alike, to attend, spectate
and take part. Located in a stunning island
location in the middle of the beautiful, green
and traffic-free Lippo Village (Karawaci), only
a step along the Merak toll from Jakarta, the
Highland Gathering is a wonderful day out
for all the family.
I coordinate the Main Arena team,
who are responsible for bringing in the
competitors from Scotland, Australia
and South East Asia, well as locally, from
Jakarta and Banten. They plan, design
and manage the whole programme of
day-long entertainment, and competition,
through to the grand finale of the Fire
Festival. I also manage the volunteers on
the day and do other bits and pieces, like
documenting the ‘lessons learned’ (issues)
from previous events in order to ensure
continual improvement in successive
years.
That’s a lot of commitment for
someone to undertake, what else do
you enjoy doing apart from looking
after the Scots in Indonesia?
Obviously, my family and my work are
my first priorities. But, apart from those,
and the activities mentioned above, I
am also about to complete my Masters,
with only the dissertation to research
and write up. I enjoy going out to Events
in Jakarta and especially the Scottish
evenings on Thursdays where I can
catch up with good friends. My main
relaxation, if only a few minutes per day,
is reading, mainly non-fiction these days.
I enjoy learning more about work related
topics and Scottish history, especially
the clearances, the enlightenment and
incredible engineering innovations, such
as the Falkirk wheel and the Stevensons’
lighthouses. Also Indonesian, and Far
East Asian, history, including the 2nd
World War and events surrounding
the Burma-Siamese railway, where my
paternal grandfather died.