A little over sixty years ago Sylvia Voon’s education was put on hold because of the 2nd World War. She was only able to leave Sabah, East Malaysia to come to Singapore by steam boat in 1946 with one intent: to continue with her education and realize her ambition of studying to be a medical doctor. She was already 20 years old .The first school she approached told her rudely that she was "too old" to study. Not one to give up easily she trudged to Middle Road and knocked on the door of St. Anthony’s Convent.

Principal Rev. Mother Victoria paid it forward when she accepted the 20 year old into the folds of St. Anthony’s Convent to study for the Senior Cambridge (equivalent to the ’O’ Level now) in 1947. Having done well in the examinations she was accepted into the College of Medicine in 1948. During her studies she met her future husband Goh Sin Tub from the faculty of Arts; they got married after she realized her ambition and her prayers answered in 1954.

Sylvia spent all her working life from 1955 to 1998 in the service of the poor; in the 1950s and 1960s most of the children were suffering from malnutrition, worm infestation, diarrhoea, tuberculosis and other ailments now forgotten with the advent of modern medical science. Her generosity with her love and time was recognized in 2008, 60 years after leaving St. Anthony’s Convent. She was honoured with a Public Service Star for her contribution to Singapore.

Dr. Sylvia Goh, current President of Canossian Alumni Association, recently gave a donation of SGD 500,000 to St. Anthony’s Convent - the school that made all her dreams come true - for the new School Building. Her hope is that it will help forge more doors for Canossian students like what Rev. Mother Victoria did for her 60 years ago.