Lisa Chesters (Bendigo, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yesterday, 11 February, was a special day for many in the Bendigo community, particularly the Bendigo Chinese Association and the Golden Dragon Museum. Our much loved dragon, Sun Loong, performed for the first time in Melbourne. He usually only comes out at Easter, after a special awakening of the dragon ceremony. But this year, as part of the Chinese New Year, he will be in Melbourne.

Yesterday he performed for the very first time for Melbourne people, many of whom have connections to Bendigo. It was a unique occasion for many reasons, not just because it was Sun Loong's first performance in Melbourne or the hundreds of volunteers that travelled down from Bendigo to carry Sun Loong through Melbourne, but also because it is at the same location where his predecessor, Loong, performed at our Federation. Loong, carried by the Bendigo Chinese community, was part of Federation at the Royal Exhibition Building, part of the opening ceremony of this parliament, back in 1901. So it was fitting that Sun Loong got to perform in a place where his predecessor once performed.

Our dragons in Bendigo are part of our cultural heritage. We are very proud of our Bendigo Chinese community and the fact they invite us to share this celebration every Easter. I encourage all to get down to Melbourne to meet Sun Loong.