THEY can play some hot strings - and tug at our heartstrings too.

TAs part of their money-raising efforts for the Caltex Stars By The Bay Charity Gala to be held tomorrow night, the ladies from the classical-pop group Bond mingled freely with nine children from the Society for the Physically Disabled at the Night Safari on Saturday evening.

The foxy foursome - Haylie Ecker, Gay-Yee Westerhoff, Tania Davis and Eos Chater - were casually-attired and perky and dishing out sunshiney 'hellos' and 'nice to meet yous' all around.

With all that sincere effervescence in the air, you would never have guessed that they had spent a tiring afternoon putting at the Laguna National Golf and Country Club for the Caltex Cup Celebrity Challenge (see page 51), and later signing autographs at Tower Records in Suntec City.

It was first violinist Ecker who was the most hands-on with the handicapped.

While the other three girls scooted off to the loo after exchanging pleasantries, Ecker chatted with Chuan Chen, a young girl suffering from cerebral palsy.

The cheery 26-year-old even pushed her pram all over the Night Safari, helped to fold it up, and never once stopped paying attention to her new companion.

During the 45-minute tram ride, the Bond girls oohed and aahed over nocturnal wild animals like Indian rhinos, giraffes, elephants and tapirs.

They also cracked up over the tour guide's deadpan voice and corny humour.

For instance, after commenting how it's actually the female lions who hunt for food while the males just eat the lion's share, he took a swipe at Bond: 'If I marry one of the four at the back (of the tram), I wouldn't have to work my entire life!'

After the tour, Ecker was again spotted hugging and teasing every tyke in sight.

On her compassionate streak and great way with kids, she gushed: 'I really love children. We're in such an amazing position, so we should give something back.'

It seems Ecker was a Girl Guide during her schooldays in Australia, and even received an award for exemplary community service when she was 15.

She also admitted having first-hand experience with the disabled. A friend of her's, who is a lawyer, is paraplegic.

Viola player Davis, 26, also found the outing 'meaningful'.

She said: 'Initially, you don't want to treat the kids in a different way, but they're very normal actually - funny, bright and clever.'

Still, only wheelchair-bound Jovin Tan knew anything about Bond. The rest were merely happy being in the presence of such 'pretty and friendly' angmoh stars.

Said Jovin, 16: 'I expected them to just come here for a while, but they interacted with us for quite some time.'

Madam Joan Canefee, mother of 9-year-old twins Ahman and Amin, who suffer from dwarfism, also raved about Bond's warm manner toward the less fortunate.

The 48-year-old housewife said: 'Some people dare not touch the kids, but they were not scared. And now, I'm quite inspired to get my two boys to learn the violin - when I can afford it!'

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