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Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2011-02-09 Daily Xml
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CHINESE NEW YEAR

The Hon. J.S. LEE (15:47): I rise today to speak about the Chinese New Year celebrations in Adelaide. Chinese New Year is the longest and most important festival in the Chinese lunar calendar among Chinese families and communities.

There are 12 animal signs associated with the Chinese New year. This year, we welcome the Year of the Rabbit, and today marks the 7th day of the Year of the Rabbit. Around this time of the year, some people have the tendency to call their friends interesting names, according to their Chinese horoscope. I suspect, 'Hello, Tiger' or 'Dragon' will be welcomed, but calling your mates pig, rat or snake should probably be avoided.

Now, let me get back on track with my speech. Due to a vibrant Chinese community living in South Australia, we continue to enjoy many wonderful Chinese New year events, over 15 days, around this time of the year. We are incredibly fortunate to be living in a multicultural society in South Australia, where we share and embrace different cultures and traditions. I believe traditions are an important part of family and community life. How wonderful it is to see the Chinese New Year traditions well integrated and celebrated in South Australia.

I express my appreciation and pay tribute to a number of Chinese community organisations for keeping Chinese cultures and traditions alive to enrich the wonderful diversity of our state. First, I congratulate the Chinatown Association of South Australia for organising its eighth successful Lunar New Year Multicultural Street Party on Saturday 5 February.

The free family and community event in Chinatown was well organised, colourfully decorated by red lanterns, with community leaders wearing auspicious traditional Chinese costumes. Thousands of people turned up in Chinatown, including members of parliament from the government and opposition. People were most excited about the sound of firecrackers and watching the two golden and red Chinese lions dancing happily around Chinatown.

Today, I also congratulate another organisation, namely the Overseas Chinese Association, for hosting a Chinese New Year celebration dinner at T-Chow on Sunday night. The Overseas Chinese Association is one of the largest Chinese membership organisations, which has served the South Australian community well for over 30 years. The organisation provides many support services for Chinese migrants, students and senior citizens. It was great to see the Leader of the Opposition and many honourable members from this house, including the Hon. David Ridgway, the Hon. Stephen Wade, the Hon. Terry Stephens and the Hon. John Dawkins, who attended the function with me. I thank them for their wonderful support to the Chinese community.

I am aware that there are many other organisations who are still to hold their Chinese New Year events this year. For example, the Australian-Chinese Medical Association, the Malaysian Club of South Australia, and the combined effort of the whole Chinese community for the 'Chinese Cultures Festival of Spring' performance at the Adelaide Festival Centre, to be held on Monday 14 February. I thank all of them for their commitment and wonderful contributions to serve South Australia.

So, in conclusion, what does the Year of the Rabbit mean to us? According to Chinese astrology, the Rabbit brings a year in which you can catch your breath—and don't we need all that—and calm your nerves. It is a time for collaboration and negotiation. One should never try to force issues, because if you do, you will ultimately fail. To gain the greatest benefits from this time, focus on home, family, security, diplomacy, and relationships with women and children.

So, with those words of wisdom, I would like to wish honourable members and everyone here a happy Chinese New Year. May you enjoy good health and prosperity and let us all make the best of 2011.

Honourable members: Hear, hear!

The ACTING PRESIDENT (Hon. R.P. Wortley): While on the subject of rabbits, the Hon. Mr Brokenshire.

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