Meet Adeline, the friendly face making workdays brighter at SATS

Fondly called “Auntie Adeline,” she is the familiar, friendly face at SATS In-Flight Catering Centre 1 who always has a warm smile, and more often than not, a little treat in hand.

One day, we might find a refreshing sorbet waiting on our desk. Another day, it’s the aroma of freshly baked garlic bread that greets us. Sometimes, it’s an assortment of cakes and pastries for a mid-afternoon pick-me-up. All these come in a cart that Auntie Adeline steers like a food fairy making her rounds.

“I don’t want to waste any food,” she explains when we ask about her seemingly endless supply of goodies.

Adeline Goh (or Auntie Adeline), Catering Officer, SATS

But Auntie Adeline does more than feed us with snacks. She is a Catering Officer at SATS—the one behind the scenes during food and beverage services for board meetings, meal presentations, and other special events held at the office. Whether it's a buffet, a semi-buffet, or a plated meal, she arranges everything.

Her work starts long before the event commences. Often a month in advance, Auntie Adeline will start coordinating with chefs to plan the menu. The day before the meeting, she prepares name tags and arranges crockery. An hour before the meeting begins, she’s already set up chafing dishes, flatware, and cutlery. During the luncheon, she’s there ensuring smooth service—pouring drinks, serving appetisers, and tending to every detail until the last plate is cleared.

Auntie Adeline coordinates with SATS chefs to ensure good food is prepared before any event

Auntie Adeline has been with SATS for an incredible 47 years. She joined when the company was still operating at Paya Lebar Airport.

She started in the Warewash team, where she handled soiled service wares from inbound flights, sorting cutlery and crockery for washing. Later, she moved to the Equipment Team, where she was responsible for preparing and packing first-class service wares for in-flight dining service. Over the years, Auntie Adeline worked her way up, becoming a Catering Assistant, then an Operations Assistant, and now, a Catering Officer.

The transition wasn’t that easy for her though. “I was shy and didn’t like serving,” she admits. When she was first offered the role, Auntie Adeline hesitated but still gave it a try. Now, she’s proud to say she loves her job.

Auntie Adeline knows dining setups like the back of her hand and has, over the years, come out of her shell when it comes to serving

“I’m proud of what I do,” Auntie Adeline shares. “I’ve learnt so much and met so many people.” She enjoys serving the company directors and sometimes ministers. She’s equally thrilled working with chefs, chatting with the service crew, and exchanging friendly greetings with staff around the office.

Auntie Adeline and some colleagues she works with at SATS Catering

Work brings Auntie Adeline joy. But she enjoys her days off, too, when she gets to meet friends for breakfast and brunch with her husband on Sundays.

When asked about the secret to staying long in a company, she has one simple piece of advice: “Get along with people. You’ll need their help.”

To us, Auntie Adeline is a comforting presence, a friendly face, and yes, the office’s unofficial food genie. She’s one of many faces that we’re always happy to see around.

 

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