Master Wang Xin De and the Tasmanian Chinese Buddhist Academy of Australia hosted our 7th Chinese New Year Banquet on 6 February 2016.

Our dear friends from all walks of life came to join us and all celebrate together.

We were honoured to have many distinguished guests including but not limited to Aunty Brenda Hodge from the Aboriginal community, Senator the Hon. Eric Abetz (representing the Prime Minister of Australia and the Minister for Immigration), the Hon. Elise Archer MP (representing the Premier of Tasmania), Consul Kang Xiaolei (representing the Consul-General of the Consulate-General of the China in Melbourne), Senator the Hon. Lisa Singh (representing Hon. Bill Shorten MP), Lord Mayor Ald Sue Hickey, and many many of the new and old friends we have had the pleasure of knowing over many years (if I listed them all, this piece of writing would be very very long!).

Our lions aren't new faces to our Hobart community. But we were also very lucky to have the Hobart Dance Academy, Zhou Fen, Xinyu Guo to showcase their great skills in dancing and musical playing.

We are also very grateful to the Sydney Oriental Sing and Dance Group for treating us to their first-class performances.

The entire evening was one filled with warmth, sincerity, love and joy. We are grateful to the Tasmanian community for embracing us and our culture.

Though we were all together to celebrate the Chinese New Year, but because of the acceptance of all Tasmanians, it became an evening that had great multicultural significance.

Happy Chinese New Year everyone!

#LNY #LionDance #CNY