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Ringing In The Year Of The Dragon
On 19th February 2024, The 2024 WA Chinese New Year Ball took place at the Crown Grand Ballroom. Previously held exclusively by Western Australian Chinese Chamber of Commerce, this year’s event was co-hosted alongside Chung Wah Association and Australia China Friendship Society of Western Australia. We were also supported by numerous other notable, long standing community associations. We were also thrilled to have so much support from the Chinese Community within Australia for such a large event of over 900 attendees.
As we ring in the Year Of The Wood Dragon, we’re thrilled that we got to celebrate with those far and wide for such a momentous occasion! The evening began with the sounds of drums and the prosperity toss! Tosses were high as everyone hoped to achieve their aspirations for The Year Of The Wood Dragon! This tradition not only added an element of fun to the event but also bonded the attendees in a shared cultural experience. We were all truly immersed in the spirit of celebration and the anticipation of good luck and fortune in the Year of the Wood Dragon.
A Run-Down Of The Night
The night began at 7:00pm sharp at Crown Towers and started with a speech from WACCC President Tony Chong:
“In the true spirit of community, it was great to see so many longstanding supporters of the Chamber and numerous member associations of the Chinese diaspora coming together to celebrate the Lunar New Year.”
“On behalf the Chamber, I would like to say a big thank you to all our generous sponsors, VIPs, members and friends for choosing to be a part of tonight’s festivities. A significant part of the Chamber’s ethos is giving back to the community. Proceeds from tonight’s silent auction will go towards supporting several community care organisations within the WA Chinese community.”
The evening was abuzz with excitement as old friends were catching up, new friends were being introduced, and business networking saw a frenzied hive of activity. Over 900 guests coming together to celebrate the Lunar New Year saw a further strengthened the sense of unity within the community.
Soon after, we were all graced by a lovely performance by the Wuhan Orchestra performing ‘Celebrating Together’; ‘The Beauty of Harmony’, conducted by Associate Professor Bo Wu. Sounds of strings and trumpets filled the air and entertained the whole room.
Some Very Special Guests
After our wonderful musical guests, a very special welcome was announced!
We are pleased to tell you that the Hon Anthony Albanese MP, Prime Minister of Australia, Honourable Roger Cook MLA, Honourable Premier of Western Australia and His Excellency Xiao Qian, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Australia attended the 2024 WA Chinese New Year Ball! Other VIPs who attended the event include the Honourable Basil Zempilas and Sam Lim MP. We are so honoured to have such amazing guests at an event like this, promoting unity and togetherness for the Chinese Diaspora.
Honourable Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the following in his speech at the ball:
“(The visit) signified another important step in the patient, calibrated and deliberate approach that my government has taken to stabilise the relationship between Australia and China.
“You can see the contribution that Western Australian resources have made to China’s extraordinary economic transformation, a transformation that in recent decades has seen more people lifted out of poverty than has occurred in any country in human history over that period of time, an enormous achievement.”
“Here in WA, you can see how much the Chinese Australian community has done to drive the growth and success of this remarkable state.”
Soon after, the Honourable Prime Minister, v Premier of Western Australia and His Excellency Xiao Qian joined in on some Chinese New Year festivities and dabbled in some Lacquer fan painting. The Honourable Prime Minister, Honourable Premier Roger Cook, and His Excellency Xiao Qian were not just observers of the festivities, they actively engaged in them! It was a sight to behold as they tried their hands at Lacquer fan painting, a traditional Chinese art form, contributing to the cultural richness of the evening.
Next up was a speech by Mimi Wong, Co-Founder & Chairwoman of Golden Group to say a few words about how special the 2024 WA Chinese New Year Ball is for them. Mimi Wong announced Golden Group’s donation to Victor Chang Foundation, dedicated to finding a cure for heart disease. We were so proud to have Golden Group as the major sponsor for the 2024 WA Chinese New Year Ball. Golden Group has a longstanding history with the Western Australian Chinese Chamber of Commerce and we couldn’t be more honoured that they are supporting this iconic event. They also announced their donation to the Victor Chang Foundation.
We also extend our heartfelt gratitude to the numerous Commonwealth Ministers who joined in the celebrations, including The Honorable Patrick Gorman MP, The Honourable Matt Keogh MP, Senator the Honorable Don Farrell, The Honorable Andrew Giles MP, and The Honorable Madeleine King MP, amongst others.
Members of the House of Representatives and Senators for Western Australia also graced the occasion. WA State Ministers including The Honorable Doctor Tony Buti, MLA; The Honorable Amber-Jade Sanderson, MLA; The Honorable David Michael, MLA; The Honorable Hannah Beazley, MLA; Dr Jagadish Krishnan, MLA; Mr Yaz Mubarakai, MLA; The Honorable Pierre Yang, MLC; and Mr David Scaife, MLA.
Furthermore, Members of the Legislative Council and Members of the Legislative Assembly who attended also added to the evening’s success. Former Parliamentary Officials and members of the Diplomatic & Consular Corps, as well as representatives from Local Government and various Associations further strengthened the event’s core, including Lord Mayor of the City of Perth, Mr Basil Zempilas, and President of the WA Chinese Chamber of Commerce, Mr Tony Chong.
Our Major Sponsor: Golden Group
With a remarkable 28-year legacy of being WA-owned and operated, Golden Group stands as a highly distinguished and prosperous property developer in Australia. Their support for the 2024 WA Chinese New Year Ball is truly invaluable, and we are happy that we celebrated with them for Chinese New Year. We also want to extend our gratitude to all other companies and organisations who sponsored and supported this event.
A Thank You To Our Platinum Sponsors:
We also want to extend our gratitude to our Platinum Sponsors: Australian Hunan Culture and Commerce Association, Arcadia Group, Asia Link Capital, Australian Shanghai Federation, AusWealth Investment Pty Ltd, Autoleague, Bright Element, Crown Perth, Emerald Resources, Fortescue, Ignite Search, MACA, Miniso Australia, Murdoch University, Hunan New Diamond Construction Machinery Co. Ltd, Oriental Mining, PRL Group, Property Blue, SIMCO Group, Simon Lee Foundation, Squire Patton Boggs, Sterling Property, Tajuria Holdings, Thiess Pty Ltd andWA Guangdong Cultural & Business Association.
Thank you for your support:
We would also like to thank the following community associations: Chung Wah Community Centre, Chung Wah Autumn Centre, Australia Malaysia Business Chamber WA, Australia Chinese Women’s Federation, Beijing Peoples Association of WA, Hong Kong Australia Business Association, Australian International Youth Arts Festival, SBS, WA Chongqing & Sichuan Association, Association of Australian Chinese Mainlanders and Friends and WA Fujian Association; and valued supporters: Connect Source, Cutting Edges, NRW Holdings, Top Skill Pty Ltd, CCIC Australia Pty Ltd, Sinopec Equipment, CR Powered by Epiroc, Geniusto International Ltd, Laudis Development, LINIC Property Group, Zodaone Pty Ltd, Access Hire Australia, Universal Realty, Ideal Legal Services, Coverforce Insurance Brokers and Doublebell Resource Wealth Pty Ltd.
Chinese New Year Festivities
The evening continued with a grand feast, where guests were treated to an array of exquisite dishes. The flavours and aromas filled the room, reflecting the rich culinary traditions of China. As the night went on, the room was filled with laughter, camaraderie, and a shared sense of excitement for the year ahead.
Soon after the sounds of drums filled the air with guests holding their ‘Ang Pow’ in the sky, it was time for Lion dancing by the Chung Wah Lion Dance Troupe! The vibrant colours and lively music accompanying the dance captivated the audience, creating an unforgettable spectacle. This performance was truly one of the highlights of the evening, adding a unique charm to the 2024 WA Chinese New Year Ball.
Followed shortly after was the Chinese Cultural Dance by Chung Wah Dance Troupe who performed ‘Spring Breeze/春风’. Blues and purples filled the air as the room was graced with such beautiful dancing. The cultural dance performed by the Chung Wah Dance Troupe was a mesmerising display of tradition and artistry. The dancers, adorned in beautiful traditional costumes, moved in harmony, their movements echoing the rhythm of the music. The dance told a story, a narrative of culture and history that captivated everyone in the room. The colours, the music, and the grace of the dancers made this performance a memorable part of the evening.
Soon thereafter, everyone danced the night away to the music of Switch! A magical start to usher in the Year of the Wood Dragon! We want to offer a special thanks to all who were involved in the 2024 WA Chinese New Year Ball! A special thank you to our major sponsor Golden Group, Chung Wah, the Australia China Friendship Society and our lovely chamber members for making the 2024 WA Chinese New Year Ball such a spectacular evening! We also want to give a massive thank you to our photographers Peter Phang and Matt Jelonek for taking all our amazing photos on the evening.
