Lunar New Year
Paul HAMER (Box Hill) (10:05): For over 20 years the Lunar New Year festival has been a highlight on the Box Hill events calendar, attracting up to 100,000 people to celebrate the Lunar New Year and to experience the great multiculturalism that Box Hill has to offer. This year’s event moved to a new location but was bigger and better than ever, with delectable food on offer, traditional Chinese cultural shows and fireworks which lit up the night sky. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Asian Business Association of Whitehorse president Bihong Wang, vice-presidents Richard Shi, Tim Chen and Steven Zheng and all the members of the fantastic ABAW team for organising such a wonderful celebration. Events such as these take months of planning and preparation, and it is a testament to the team that the event was a success. I also want to thank our local stakeholders Box Hill Institute, the Salvation Army, Whitehorse council and Whitehorse Manningham Libraries for their invaluable support, as well as the event sponsors.
I also want to acknowledge the contribution of the Allan Labor government: $100,000 a year over four years to help guarantee the future of this event in the years to come. I hope that the Premier will be able to join me at the 2025 Lunar New Year festival. Finally, to everyone in our community who has celebrated the Lunar New Year: good luck in the Year of the Dragon, and may you have a prosperous year ahead. Lóng nián dàjí; gōng xǐ fā cái.