If there’s one thing we’ve learned over the years, it’s that when you plant the seed of a good thing, it will grow in places you didn’t expect. Case in point: one of our newest chapters has just sprouted in Singapore. 

It’s not exactly the first place you might think of for a Club night. Hot, humid, with only one decent English-language bookstore (run by a Japanese franchise, no less), and a long way from the pubs of Melbourne where TGBC first started. But that didn’t stop Chapter President Ray from getting things off the ground. 

Ray isn’t new to TGBC, he’s originally from the mighty Altona Chapter in Melbourne’s west, where he helped to run things. When the chance came to move to Singapore with his family, he figured he’d keep an eye out for any fellow Goons lurking about. Turns out, there were a few! A couple of guys who follow TGBC online, and read along in the background, were keen to start something local but weren’t quite sure how. Ray linked up with long-term residents Isac and David, an Aussie expat who’d been to a few Brunswick meets back home. Together, they made it happen. 

Finding a venue took a bit of effort. New to Singapore, Ray teamed up with Isac for a Wednesday night “pub crawl,” trying to find the right place. After a few stops they landed on Brewerkz, a craft brewery down by the river at Clarke Quay. Quiet enough for a proper conversation, good beers on tap, a breeze off the water. Job done. 

The first meeting? Just the three of them; Ray, Isac, and David. Small start but a solid one. That first night had all the right elements: a few good Goons, some beers, a well-thumbed (and slightly sun-baked) copy of The Beach by Alex Garland, and the Singapore heat to set the scene. A perfect way to kick things off. 

Since then, numbers have grown with eight Goons at the most recent meet. A member of the Chatswood Chapter in Sydney came for a visit to a recent meeting, and he brought his son (who is living in town) along for his first chapter meeting. That’s what we like to see, the kind of thing that bridges generations, and even time zones. 

So how does the Singapore Chapter roll? Like most good chapters; respectful, focused on the stories of Goons, and with conversations that tend to wander (especially when the pints flow and the book stirs a few strong opinions). The Singapore chapter is leaning into the challenges, and they’ve even set up a group account with the Singapore Red Cross to donate blood. Outside of Club nights, they recently held their first social event, celebrating Bourdain Day on June 25th with Peruvian joint; Canchita setting the scene. With live music and a tropical jungle as the backdrop, pints of beer were swapped out for Pisco Sours on a flavour journey far beyond Southeast Asia. The night was vibrant, eclectic, and life-affirming, just like the man himself! 

So if you’re a local to Singapore, or find yourself passing through, you’ll know where to find a good bunch of men, and a good chat. Tough Guy Book Club Singapore Chapter meet at 7pm on the first Wednesday of each month at Brewerkz in Clarke Quay. 

By C.H. Yelverton