NEWSLETTER - Chung Wah Society

2013/14 CWS
OFFICE HOLDERS
AND COMMITTEE
NEWSLETTER
Mr Richard (Dick) Griffiths
Patron
February 2014
Goong Hei Fatt Choy.
Mr Adam Lowe
Vice-Patron
Sun Nin Fai Lok.
Mr Alfred On OAM
Vice-Patron
Mr Austin Chin
President
Happy New Year.
Mr Daryl Chin
Vice President
Ms Tiffany Chin Rinaldi
General Secretary
Mr Roland Chin
Treasurer
Mr Daniel Chow
Chinese Secretary
Committee Members
Andrew Chin
David Quan
Dennis Low
Desmond Yuen
Jade Schembri
Jonathan Quan
Mervyn Chin
Natasha Yuen
Nathan Tam
Quen Foo
Randall Chin
Roger Lowe
Shaun Pearson
Stephen Pearson
CHUNG WAH SENIOR’S
The group resumes back at the hall on 14 February 2014 and continues to
meet
every second Friday (except on Public Holidays) through till 5 December.
PROPOSED SPECIAL EVENTS FOR THIS YEAR:
Friday 28 March:
Harmony Day Lunch
Friday 23 May:
Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea
To be advised:
Multicultural Luncheon/Get together
To be advised:
Senior’s Functions yet to be finalised
Friday 5 December:
Christmas Party
For more information please contact Melanie Chin on 0412903980 AH.
Temple Officer
Mervyn Chin
LION DANCE NEW YEAR SHOP BLESSING SCHEDULE
Temple Caretaker
Paul Ho
Friday 7th February - 6.00pm
Lion Dance Shop Blessings of Shops at Casuarina Square
Public Officer
Roland Chin
Newsletter Editor
Jade Schembri
Community Support
Worker
Mrs Susan Lay
Auditor
Mr John Hetherington
Saturday 8th February Lion Dance Shop Blessings of Shops in Northern Suburbs and Palmerston
Saturday 15th February - 9.00am onwards
Lion Dance Shop Blessings Darwin CBD
11.00am Parap Markets
Chinese New Year Ball SKYCITY Note: Function is Sold Out.
For Further Information please contact Austin Chin on 0413998082
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
Welcome the “Year of the Horse”, Chinese New Year has been celebrated for more than four thousand years. The date
of the celebration is determined by the Chinese Lunar Calendar, this year was the 31 st January 2014. In Darwin, the
Chinese New Year began at midnight last Thursday night at the Temple with many families, visitors and business
people lighting Joss sticks which filled the Temple with auspicious smoke along with the beating of the drum, clanging
of the bell and the lighting of fire crackers.
In the 1870’s, many Chinese people immigrated to the Northern Territory to look for gold. Historians estimate that in the
late 1890’s, the Chinese outnumbered Caucasian’s by six to one. Later, Chinese immigrants provided services to the
miners and the general community, working as cooks, tailors, laundry men and establishing market gardens. As well as
providing the labour, Chinese engineering skills and experience helped to build the railroad and the Overland
Telegraph.
In 1949, the Chung Wah Society was established to promote good relationships with the general community and to
promote our Culture. I am proud to say that our Society has and continues to honour this duty and responsibility and
provide leadership for the wellbeing of the Chinese community in the Territory.
One of our most important customs of the Chinese New Year is the blessing of shops and homes by our Lion Dance
Troupe. It is believed that all donations received by the Lion is returned tenfold in good luck throughout the year. The
blessings are sanctioned by the Temple where all donations are used for its’ maintenance and upkeep. Today, Lion
Dancers are active in Chinese communities all over the world. However, they are busiest during the celebration of
Chinese New Year.
Our Lion Dancers are young men and women who have trained together for many years to develop the skill, discipline,
bravery, teamwork and intelligence needed in their performances. Lion Dancing is good training for life because the
same skills are needed to overcome life’s obstacles. Our Lion Dancers start from a very young age and many of our
committee members have come from having started as Lion Dancers which is why I believe, has given our committee
such strong ethics.
It is these beliefs that make our Society strong and effective, these beliefs have been passed down by our forefathers
and we have been taught well.
I wish all our members, friends and supporters a very “Happy and Prosperous New Year of the Horse.”
Austin James Chin
NT CHINESE MUSEUM
The Museum will reopen on Tuesday 04 March 2014.
The Society is still on the look out for new volunteers. The more volunteers we have, the lighter the workload for all. If
you are unable to volunteer yourself, but you may know of any potential volunteers who may be able to help out, please
approach them personally to sound them out and let Adam Lowe know if they are willing so he can then talk to them
about their preferences for the roster.
We are also looking for someone with graphical design capabilities to help us in designing some new brochures and
handouts for the museum and temple.
A working bee for the weekends before we open to refresh the museum on
Sunday 23 February
Saturday 01 March
Sunday 02 March
For more information please contact Adam Lowe on 0411631726
CHINESE NEW YEAR IN ALICE SPRINGS
The year of the horse, saw the Lion Dance troupe
return to Alice Springs.
Even waking up at 5am couldn't dampen the
enthusiasm of the Lion Dance troupe as they
prepared to fly down on Saturday the 1st of
February. Meeting up with the amazingly helpful
and
dedicated Wulfe (our bus driver), the team was all
set, ready to go, immediacy jumping off the plane
and into performances.
After a few early blessings the team approached
Yeperenye Shopping Centre, for the first of their
non-stop performances. Here they blessed in over a dozen shops in a continuous routine that lasted over an
hour and a half. Drawing in a crowd, the troupe threw in some amazing jumps and “wow factor” to make the
most of the occasion.
From there it was a quick walk across the road to Alice Plaza for another bout of shops. With not a moment
to spare, the troupe broke into another continuous performance, again lasting over an hour. Another big
finale, with the promise of lunch looming, the team found the energy pull out two lions for another impressive
routine.
With a well-earned lunch, it was back outside into the bright, sunny, 39-degree heat, for an afternoon full of
Lion Dance. The troupe made their way from place to place, visiting various shops, centres and supermarkets
on the way, each dance brining the noise of the cymbals, gong, and drum with them.
It wasn't until late in the afternoon, well after 5pm, that the team finally made it to their hotel. The alluring pool
proved too much temptation, with most of the troupe going for a swim to escape the desert heat.
Refreshed and ready to go, it was time for the night blessings. Again running two Lions, the troupe went to
many of the restaurants of Alice Springs, with some such as Hanuman and the Oriental Gourmet generously
providing us with various means during our stay.
All that, was only day number one! The team woke bright and early on Sunday for another day of Lion Dance.
On Sunday we went to the various homes of Alice Springs residents, including David Quan, and the
grandparents of Troupe members Emily and Joseph Tjung, all of whom had helped organise and cater for
the trip. Blessing seemingly everything, including a new Fire Engine, the troupe finally made their way back
to the airport for the flight back home.
Stephen Pearson
Thank you
to all the volunteers
that helped clean the temple.
Chung Wah is grateful to announce Malaysia
Airlines as our latest major sponsor.
We thank them for their support and look forward to
working with Sales Manager Rose Felice
and her team at Malaysia Airlines for our mutual
benefit.
Contact us at:
[email protected]