House debates

Monday, 15 February 2021

Statements by Members

Lunar New Year

1:30 pm

Photo of Julie OwensJulie Owens (Parramatta, Australian Labor Party) Share this | | Hansard source

It's lunar new year again, and we ring in the Year of the Ox—a time of stability and calmness, which is something we need. It's interesting the way the lunar new year usually gives us exactly what we need when we need it. It's predicted to be a year of great opportunity and economic prosperity. But it's been a much quieter lunar new year this year than I've experienced in my 16 years of enjoying it in Parramatta. Usually we have the Chinese community, the Australian Korean community and the Australian Vietnamese community celebrating. I go from event to event. There is lots of dancing, lots of food, lots of fireworks, lots of colour and, of course, the lion dancing. We did have that this year. On Saturday, once again, the Sydney Youth Dragon & Lion Dance Troupe with William and Jane Ho formed up at Parramatta Town Hall and went down Church Street blessing the various businesses in the street. It's something I usually participate in every year and it's a great event.

I say to all of my Australian Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese community that, even though we didn't get together and celebrate it in the way we usually do, I know it's an incredibly important time of the year for you and your families and I really hope that once the ox has done its job this year, when it comes around to lunar new year next year, we'll be out in the streets once again celebrating together. This is now an Australian festival. It has been celebrated in Australia for more than a century. We do it every year now and we'll do it again next year. Happy new year!