Keith Wolahan (Menzies, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise to congratulate the Chinese Fellowship of Victoria on its 50th anniversary. The Chinese story is intertwined with the fabric of Australian history. As the member for Menzies, I know this deeply. Twenty-seven per cent of my electorate have Chinese heritage. Their influence is to be felt in small businesses, schools and community organisations across our electorate. Our suburban centres of Box Hill, Doncaster and Templestowe would not be the same without them. For 50 years the Chinese Fellowship of Victoria has been at the heart of this story—the story of finding a new home without losing an old one. In crises for both of our nations, whether it was the Black Saturday bushfires or the Chinese earthquake, the fellowship has been there to help. In opening the first language schools and the first recreational centres for the Chinese community, it was the fellowship that brought these things to pass.

Performative arts also matter. I've been lucky to witness many displays of tai chi, line dancing and martial arts. It's wonderful to see the effort that has been put into those.

I want to congratulate the secretary, Michael Li, as well as the president, Patrick Wu, for their formidable leadership of this organisation. It was wonderful to be invited to celebrate with them the other night.