Andrew Charlton (Parramatta, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Last weekend I had the pleasure of attending the Moon Festival celebration program. It was an absolute honour to present awards to the winners of the 2024 Global Chinese Recitation Competition and to participate in the lantern showcase. I was amazed by the creativity and craftsmanship of the students, like Victor, who showed me his impressive dragon-shaped lantern, which he made over the course of two weeks with the help of his mum. Many other children creatively recycled materials from their homes, using plastic bottles, cardboard boxes and even disposable chopsticks to make their lanterns. Afterwards, the students dressed in traditional Chinese clothing and proudly paraded around their handmade lanterns before their teachers and friends. Their pride was unmistakable. For the kids, making these lanterns was more than just celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival. It meant spending time and making special memories with their families and friends. These students are so bright and talented. I'm incredibly proud to see them grow up in Australia, celebrating their heritage and traditions. This is the true beauty of our multicultural community, and I look forward to seeing how these young minds will contribute to their country's future.

This wonderful event was organised by Feng Hua, a local Chinese language school in Epping. Since 1998, Feng Hua has promoted the learning of the Chinese language in our community. Under the leadership of Principal Xu, Feng Hua continues to foster a deep appreciation of Chinese culture for generations of children and families. I want to extend my sincere thanks to Feng Hua for such a wonderful weekend. The smiles on the faces of the children and parents are a testament to the success of this event. It's the best feedback any educator can receive, and I'm proud to support such a wonderful community event.