Community jumps into the Year of the Rabbit

MEMBERS of the Chinese Australian Cultural Society Ballarat celebrated Luna New Year with concert at Civic Hall last Saturday.

With a line-up of more than 100 performers, the Society’s vice-president Michelle Philips said she hopes the inaugural performance will be the first in an annual tradition.

“We’re hoping this will be just the beginning,” she said. “Traditionally, we’d hold celebrations with Sovereign Hill but it’s time we do something different for the community.

“Chinese New Year is the biggest festival held by the Chinese people. We’re in the Year of the Rabbit which is the fourth rotation in the lunar cycle.

“We’ve got the Huazi troop coming from Melbourne and they have members from all of China’s cultural groups.

“China is a very large country and its provinces vary from the Mongolian-Russians to the north to Cantonese in the south so we’re reflecting that diversity with our performers.”

Performers included the Happy Birds dancing group, the Ballarat Pipe Band and tai chi demonstrations.

Jie Fang visited from Melbourne to take part in the concert as a Bian Lian, also known as face changing.

She said the event, to her, was about showcasing her culture.

“It’s definitely a spread of our culture and to get more people interested in our traditions,” she said.

“This is an ancient art that’s been passed down for a long time and the secrets are second-level secrecy in China which means you can’t spread them if you’re a student.”

Yilin Liu, an intercultural ambassador for the City of Ballarat, said the event was about celebrating the region’s multiculturalism.

“This means a lot for the Chinese community,” she said. “Normally, our celebrations would be more focused on the Chinese community, but this is the first time we’ve opened this up more for everyone.

“This is a good opportunity for the Chinese Society to show how friendly and open the whole of Ballarat is to visitors.”