2010 Media Releases
Chinese New Year - Kung Hei Fat Choy (Happy New Year)
18 January 2010
Willoughby City Council and the Chinese Cultural Centre will host a plethora of activities celebrating Chinese New Year throughout February. The celebrations will be launched by Willoughby Mayor, Pat Reilly and Chairman of the Chinese Cultural Centre, Bill Li at 11.30am, Monday 1 February, Willoughby City Council Chambers, level 6, 31 Victor Street, Chatswood.
The celebrations will welcome the Year of the Tiger. People born under the sign of the Tiger are sensitive, given to deep thinking and capable of great success. They are also considered to be courageous and powerful individuals.
Willoughby’s Chinese New Year celebrations will culminate with the Chinese New Year festival 10am to 5pm, Saturday 13th February, Chatswood Mall, Victoria Avenue, Chatswood. Hosted by the Chinese Cultural Centre, the festivities will include lion and dragon dancers, folk dancers and magicians, Kung Fu demonstrations, Chinese opera singers and more than 30 stalls selling Chinese food, art and craft.
Entertainment will feature throughout the day, but the optimum time to be in the mall is at the end of the opening ceremony around 11.30 when a 15 metre long, brilliant red and gold adorned dragon, and two leaping lions will perform a spectacular dance. The dance will reflect peace and harmony for people everywhere.
“Chinese New Year is a time for families and the community to join together and celebrate the good fortune, health and prosperity of the year to come,” said Willoughby Mayor, Pat Reilly.
Other events held for Chinese New Year include:
Chinese New Year Lucky Slogan Writing Workshop
1.30 – 3pm, Sunday 14 February
Lobby outside Chatswood Library, Level 1, Mandarin Shopping Centre, 65 Albert Avenue, Chatswood
Franz Cheung, a local Chinese calligrapher, will demonstrate how to write a lucky slogan with a Chinese brush. Make your own lucky slogan banner to hang in your home for Chinese New Year.
Chinese Dragon Puppet Craft Workshops
11am – 12 noon, Saturday 20 February
Lobby outside Chatswood Library, Level 1, Mandarin Shopping Centre, 65 Albert Avenue, Chatswood
3:30 - 4:30pm, Tuesday 23 February
Artarmon Library, 2 Elizabeth Street, Artarmon
Children aged four to 12 can create their own dragon puppet to celebrate the legendary mythological Chinese creatures. Materials including colourful papers, ribbons, waggling eyes and paddle pop sticks will be used and provided. Bookings open Monday, 8 February 2010.
Story time sessions for preschoolers – Celebrating the Year of the Tiger
Stories of lion dances, tigers and zodiac animals will be told by an energetic story teller and followed by a lion dance performance.
Artarmon Library, 2 Elizabeth Street, Artarmon
- 10:30 – 11:15 am, Monday 15 February
Chatswood Library, Level 1, Mandarin Shopping Centre, 65 Albert Avenue, Chatswood
- 9:30 – 10:15 am and 10:30 – 11:15 am, Wednesday 17 February
- 9:30 – 10:15 am and 10:30 – 11:15 am Thursday 18 February
Castle Cove Library, 8b Deepwater Road Castle Cove
- 10.30 - 11.15, Thursday 18 February
Media Contact
Media and Marketing Group Manager
Phone: 9777 7703
Mobile: 0421 492 757
Email: rebecca.hill@willoughby.nsw.gov.au