GVCA 2025 Mid-Autumn Festival Celebration — A Day of Reunion and Connection

GV华人协会 2025 中秋节庆典圆满落幕！

The Goulburn Valley Chinese Association (GVCA) proudly hosted the 2025 Mid-Autumn Festival Celebration on Saturday 11 October 2025 at the South Shepparton Community Centre, marking the Association’s first major community event since COVID.

Nearly 200 guests came together for an afternoon of joy, colour, and connection — sharing mooncakes, lantern-making, karaoke, hanfu photos, trivia games, and family fun. It was a day that celebrated reunion, gratitude, and belonging under the bright Shepparton sky.

GV华人协会（GVCA）于2025年10月11日星期六在南谢伯顿社区中心（South Shepparton Community Centre）隆重举办了2025年中秋节庆典活动，这也是协会自新冠疫情以来的首次大型社区活动。

近200位来宾齐聚一堂，共度一个充满欢乐、色彩与温情的下午。大家一起品尝月饼、制作灯笼、参加卡拉OK表演、穿着汉服拍照、参与知识问答游戏和家庭趣味活动，在谢伯顿明亮的天空下，共同庆祝团圆、感恩与归属的节日意义。

The Meaning Behind the Festival

The Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Moon Festival, is one of the most beloved traditions across East and Southeast Asia. It symbolises reunion, harvest, and hope — a time for families and communities to come together, share food, and reflect on the beauty of connection beneath the same full moon.

中秋节，又称“月亮节”，是华人和许多亚洲社区最珍视的传统节日之一，象征着团圆、丰收与希望。每逢此时，人们在同一轮明月下相聚、分享美食、寄托思念。

For the Shepparton community, this year’s festival represented more than tradition — it was a chance to reconnect after years of quiet, rebuild relationships, and celebrate the rich diversity that makes the Goulburn Valley shine.

对谢伯顿社区而言，今年的中秋不仅仅是节日，更是一次重新连接与团聚的机会。在经历了多年的沉寂之后，社区再次因文化与友谊而相聚，为Goulburn Valley 地区的多元文化增添了新的光彩。

Words from GVCA

Goulburn Valley 华人协会致辞

“This is just a restart — a chance for us to reconnect, rebuild, and bring more colour to the Goulburn Valley.
The GV Chinese Association plays a vital role in bridging the Chinese community with the broader Shepparton community.
We may speak Mandarin, Cantonese, English, or other languages, but we share the same roots, the same culture, and the same heart for community.”
— Jimmy Li, President of GVCA

“我相信这只是一个新的开始。它是我们重新连接、重建友谊并为大谷地区增添更多色彩的契机。大谷华人协会在连接华人社区与更广泛的谢伯顿社区之间发挥着重要作用。无论大家说中文、粤语或英语，我们都有共同的根、共同的文化与共同的社区情怀。”
— 李沛，GV华人协会会长

Voices of Support

Mayor Shane Sali spoke about how the festival reflects family, friendship, and gratitude — values that unite us all, praising Shepparton as one of Australia’s most welcoming multicultural communities.

谢伯顿市长 Shane Sali 表示，中秋节象征着家庭、友谊与感恩，这些价值观把人们紧密相连。他称赞谢伯顿是澳大利亚最具包容性的多元文化地区之一。

Sam Atukorala, CEO from the Ethnic Council of Shepparton and District Inc. highlighted the long history of the Chinese community in the region and commended GVCA for bringing cultural life back into focus.

大谢伯顿地区多元文化理事会CEO, Sam Atukorala 强调，Goulburn Valley 地区的华人社区历史悠久、活力十足，并感谢协会重新点燃了社区的文化火焰。

Event Highlights

Hosted by GVCA Vice President Kimberley Chu and Sookie Li, the event was full of laughter, colour, and connection. Guests included Kim O’Keeffe MP, Sam Birrell MP, Linda Rigby (GV Health), Leigh Johnson (Shepparton Police), Melanie Domaschenz (South Shepparton Community Centre), and Plemo (ONE FM 98.5 Shepparton).

The celebration concluded with a trivia quiz and lucky draw, filling the hall with applause and smiles — a perfect reflection of the Mid-Autumn spirit.

活动由副会长Kimberley Chu与Sookie Li共同主持，现场气氛热烈而温馨。活动嘉宾包括州议员 Kim O’Keeffe、联邦议员 Sam Birrell、GV Health 的 Linda Rigby、谢伯顿警察局的 Leigh Johnson、社区中心的 Melanie Domaschenz 以及 ONE FM 的 Plemo。
庆典最后以知识问答与抽奖活动圆满收尾，笑声与掌声交织在节日的喜悦中。

Gratitude & Looking Ahead

GVCA extends heartfelt thanks to all volunteers who worked tirelessly to make this event possible — from setup and greeting to decorating, guiding activities, and packing down. Your energy made the celebration shine.

衷心感谢所有的志愿者们，你们的辛勤努力让此次庆典如此成功。无论是布置、迎宾、引导还是收尾，每一位都为社区贡献了光和热。

This celebration was more than a festival — it was a restart for our community, a reminder that culture brings colour, strength, and unity to the Goulburn Valley. GVCA looks forward to continuing this journey of cultural exchange, wellbeing, and shared celebration.

这次中秋节不仅仅是一次庆典，更是华人社区新的起点。文化让Goulburn Valley 地区更加多彩、坚韧、团结。未来，GV华人协会将继续推动文化交流、社区福祉与团结共庆的愿景。