Recent Events: Commemorating the 60th National Day of the People’s Republic of China in Western Australia

In early October 2009, the Western Australian community came together to commemorate the 60th National Day of the People’s Republic of China. This was made possible by the collaboration of 28 Chinese organisations in Perth, including the Confucius Institute, who for the first time worked united to celebrate this important occasion. These organisations, chaired by the Chung Wah Association, prepared two functions for the celebration: a banquet and a cultural concert.

The banquet was held on the 1st of October 2009 at the Burswood Ballroom. The Confucius Institute invited various members from UWA and the local community to attend this event. Throughout the course of the evening, the Chinese Consul General of the Consulate-General of the People’s Republic of China in Perth, Mr Li Shugang; the President of the Chung Wah Association, Mr Tien Shang Su; the Premier of Western Australia, Mr Colin Barnett MLA; the Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Eric Ripper; the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Western Australia, Professor Alan Robson and the former editor of the West Australian Newspaper, Mr Paul Murray, presented speeches of congratulations.

On the 3rd of October, the cultural concert was held at the Burswood Theatre. The production which involved over 360 members of the community was performed to a sold out audience. The Confucius Institute was well represented by eight UWA students: Stephen White, Thomas Williams, Justin Hewett, Philip Georgiou, Tracy Rothery, Evelyn Hoon, Sarah Stanton and Sophie Smith. The students worked hard leading up to the concert to perform a self-written skit “In Search of Love in Beijing” and a Chinese Opera performance “Peking Opera Face Painting”. The skit has been praised in the local Chinese newspapers as Western Australia’s response to the Canadian comedian Da Shan (Mark Rowswell).

西澳华人华侨共庆中华人民共和国六十华诞

2009年十月初，西澳社团齐聚一堂，共同庆祝中华人民共和国六十华诞。这次聚会由中华会馆主办，28个在珀斯的华人社团协办，包括第一次参与的孔子学院。聚会的两大主题是：宴会与文化音乐会。

宴会于2009年十月一日在Burswood宴会厅举行，孔子学院邀请了西澳大学诸多人士和当地社团成员参加了这次表演.晚宴上，中国驻珀斯总领馆总领事李树钢先生，中华会馆主席徐天送先生，西澳总理Colin Barnett MLA先生，反对派领袖Hon. Eric Ripper先生，西澳大学副校长Alan Robson教授以及西澳报前总编Paul Murray先生均到场并发言。

十月三日，文化音乐会在Burswood剧院举行。逾360名社团成员使得观众席座无虚席。八名UWA学生代表孔子学院表演了自编的短剧“寻爱北京”及戏曲“京剧脸谱绘”。演出的学生分别是：Stephen White、Thomas Williams、Justin Hewett、Philip Georgiou、Tracy Rothery、Evelyn Hoon、Sarah Stanton和 Sophie Smith。学生们表演的短剧曾被中文当地报纸誉为西澳的大山（加拿大笑星大山，Mark Rowswell）。